Biomaterial Database

Alternate and simultaneous binaural bithermal caloric testing: a comparison. 1988

J M Furman, and C Wall, and D B Kamerer

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, PA

This study compares the results from simultaneous binaural bithermal and alternate binaural bithermal caloric testing of 652 patients with dizziness. Also compared are the abilities of these tests to distinguish between a population of healthy asymptomatic subjects and our patient population. Caloric testing used a closed-loop irrigation system. Eye movements were monitored with electro-oculography. The agreement between the results from the two tests was low. Also, while the simultaneous test was more sensitive, the alternate test was more specific. Using receiver-operator characteristic methodology, it was found that the ability of the alternate test to distinguish between a healthy population and a patient population was superior to that of the simultaneous test. There was no improvement in the ability to distinguish between a healthy population and a patient population when the results from the two tests were combined as compared to using the alternate caloric test alone.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007759	Labyrinth Diseases	Pathological processes of the inner ear (LABYRINTH) which contains the essential apparatus of hearing (COCHLEA) and balance (SEMICIRCULAR CANALS).	Inner Ear Disease,Ear Disease, Inner,Ear Diseases, Inner,Inner Ear Diseases,Labyrinth Disease
D002150	Caloric Tests	Elicitation of a rotatory nystagmus by stimulating the semicircular canals with water or air which is above or below body temperature. In warm caloric stimulation a rotatory nystagmus is developed toward the side of the stimulated ear; in cold, away from the stimulated side. Absence of nystagmus indicates the labyrinth is not functioning.	Barany Test,Barany's Test,Baranys Test,Caloric Test,Test, Barany,Test, Barany's,Test, Caloric,Tests, Caloric
D004585	Electrooculography	Recording of the average amplitude of the resting potential arising between the cornea and the retina in light and dark adaptation as the eyes turn a standard distance to the right and the left. The increase in potential with light adaptation is used to evaluate the condition of the retinal pigment epithelium.	EOG,Electrooculograms,Electrooculogram
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000465	Algorithms	A procedure consisting of a sequence of algebraic formulas and/or logical steps to calculate or determine a given task.	Algorithm
D012372	ROC Curve	A graphic means for assessing the ability of a screening test to discriminate between healthy and diseased persons; may also be used in other studies, e.g., distinguishing stimuli responses as to a faint stimuli or nonstimuli.	ROC Analysis,Receiver Operating Characteristic,Analysis, ROC,Analyses, ROC,Characteristic, Receiver Operating,Characteristics, Receiver Operating,Curve, ROC,Curves, ROC,ROC Analyses,ROC Curves,Receiver Operating Characteristics
D014722	Vestibule, Labyrinth	An oval, bony chamber of the inner ear, part of the bony labyrinth. It is continuous with bony COCHLEA anteriorly, and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS posteriorly. The vestibule contains two communicating sacs (utricle and saccule) of the balancing apparatus. The oval window on its lateral wall is occupied by the base of the STAPES of the MIDDLE EAR.	Vestibular Apparatus,Ear Vestibule,Vestibular Labyrinth,Vestibule of Ear,Vestibulum Auris,Apparatus, Vestibular,Ear Vestibules,Labyrinth Vestibule,Labyrinth Vestibules,Labyrinth, Vestibular,Labyrinths, Vestibular,Vestibular Labyrinths,Vestibule, Ear,Vestibules, Ear,Vestibules, Labyrinth
D014724	Vestibular Function Tests	A number of tests used to determine if the brain or balance portion of the inner ear are causing dizziness.	Function Test, Vestibular,Function Tests, Vestibular,Test, Vestibular Function,Tests, Vestibular Function,Vestibular Function Test