Persistent Positional Vertigo in a Patient with Partial “Auto-Plugged” Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence: A Case Study

Abstract

A 73-year-old female was referred to our department for persistent left anterior benign paroxysmal positional vertigo refractory to multiple repositioning procedures and training physiotherapist exercises. The audiovestibular assessment and high resonance computed tomography of the petrosal bone confirmed the presence of a 5.4 mm large paucisymptomatic left anterior semicircular canal dehiscence. The connection between the 2 apparently distinct neurotological entities in the same patient was further sustained by additional imagery. T2-weighted and 3-dimensional labyrinthine sequences confirmed the presence of a partially “auto-plugged” superior semicircular canal dehiscence which progressively entrapped greater otolith particles proximal to the cupula of the superior semicircular canal.

Introduction

The superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is a bony defect responsible for a variable range of cochlear and vestibular symptoms. Diagnosis is based on specific audiovestibular tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bone, which measures the size of the bone defect. Sometimes its discovery can be fortuitous, and the correlation between dehiscence’s size and vestibulocochlear signs and symptoms along with audiovestibular findings is still debated.¹ A self-limiting benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can become disabling when it recurs regularly or fails to respond to repositioning therapy, affecting the subject’s quality of life.² Calcium crystals (otoliths) are usually easily repositioned when they are smaller than the diameter of the affected membranous canal, easily finding their way back to the utricle. Stagnation of larger debris could be responsible for persistent dizziness and recurrent vertigo. Here we report the case of a patient with disabling left superior semicircular canal BPPV, in whom an associated left SSCD was also found. Being partially self-sealing and therefore stretching the lumen of the SSC, it systematically prevented the performance of a fully effective repositioning maneuver.

Case Presentation

A 73-year-old female was referred to our department for recurrent BPPV lasting for over 1 year, triggered by neck extension and rolling over in bed on the right side. Repeated repositioning maneuvers by an experienced physical therapist did not completely alleviate the patient. Audiovestibular evaluation revealed normal hearing on the right side and a mixed hearing loss with a 40 dB Sound Pressure Level (SPL) air-bone gap limited to 250 Hz on the left side (Figure 1A). Middle ear reflexes were present bilaterally; cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) in air conduction were preserved with a lower than normal threshold (60 dB Hearing Level) on the left side (Figure 1B). Videonystagmography (VNG) (Ulmer System^®, Synapsis, France) was normal. Head shaking test, fistula test, and Valsalva maneuver were normal. However, left-beating nystagmus was elicited by the skull vibration test.³ A written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Figure 1. a,b.

(a) Left-sided mixed hearing loss with an air-bone gap of 40 dB at 250 Hz; (b) lower than normal cVEMPs at 60 dB. Left cVEMPs amplitudes were significantly greater when compared to the right cVEMPs. cVEMPs, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the left SSC was suspected when Dix–Hallpike maneuver⁴ elicited prominent leftward torsional down-beating nystagmus on lying supine from the sitting position (latency: 4 seconds, duration: 22 seconds, peak slow-phase velocity: 8°/seconds, Video – Supplementary material). Sitting up did not produce nystagmus reversal. Repetition of repositioning procedures including mastoid vibration⁵ during the maneuver to promote mobilization of the otolith and evacuate presumably attached particles was unsuccessful.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) (GE GSI Revolution, GE healthcare, Chicago, Illinois, USA) of the petrous bone with reconstruction slices acquired in the Pöschl plane at nominal 0.625 mm slice thickness with a 50% overlap of 0.312 mm⁶ allowed to visualize a 5.4 mm left SSCD (Figure 2A). A thin bone covered the right SC (Figure 2B). Three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imagery (3D HR MRI) of the labyrinth (Figure 3A–B) supported this hypothesis by confirming the presence of a 0.5 mm endolymphatic membrane collapse over the left SSC membranous duct, not far from the cupula.

Figure 2. a,b.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of the petrous bone showing (a) a right-sided measured 3.8 mm “near dehiscence” of the SSC and (b) (left ear) a left-sided 5.4 mm large dehiscence of the SSC. SSC, superior semicircular canal.

Figure 3. a,b.

(a) Three-dimensional high-resolution MRI of the labyrinth. Narrowing and partial stenosis of the membranous duct of the left superior semicircular canal (right) matching the SSCD area; Fusion imaging between 3D T2 FLAIR and T2 Driven Equilibrium (DRIVE) confirming the narrowing left SSC (left); (b) (3D HR MRI) of the labyrinth confirming a narrowing at 0.5 mm of the SSC (for a normal diameter of about 1.2 mm)—multiaxial 3D plane view. SSCD, superior semicircular canal dehiscence; FLAIR, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery; 3D HR MRI, three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Although the patient did not complain of autophony, sound/air sensitivity, or vertigo induced by loud sounds,⁶ the clinical presentation and audiovestibular findings were consistent with a third window abnormality combined with persistent BPPV on the same SSC.

Surgical treatment to complete spontaneous auto-plugging of the SSC to prevent further migration of trapped otoliths was therefore proposed. For the time being, the patient preferred daily Brandt–Darroff’s exercises—although partially effective—to surgery.

Discussion

The most intriguing finding in this patient was the persistence of a rare variant of BPPV, despite repeated repositioning maneuvers by experienced physical therapists, associated with the presence of large radiological dehiscence of 5.4 mm when one might have expected the absence of significant symptoms.¹ Superior variant of BPPV is exceptional⁴ due to its high location, promoting otoconial self-clearance. Bell-shaped debris of calcium carbonate with a ranging size of 1-30 µm displaced from the utricular membrane float in the superior membranous SC ducts generating vertigo with head position movements.⁹ It arises generally as a complication of repositioning maneuvers or after prolonged hyperextension and its treatment consists of reverse Epley or similar maneuvers.⁴

Because both pathologies were located on the left side and the SSCD was sufficiently large, we hypothesized that the superior membrane of the SC could be progressively deformed and narrowed by a protrusion of the dura through the dehiscence to reach and compress the membranous SSC. Indeed, MRI showed significant narrowing of the SSC lumen, near the ampullary crus. Protrusion of the dura would result in partial plugging of SSCD, as previously hypothesized in some variants.^1,7-8 Therefore, persistent and/or refractory BPPV to left SSC repositioning maneuvers may develop progressively, as larger otoliths may become trapped. Due to repeated repositioning maneuvers, a little more otoconia⁹ could be stacked between the SSC cup and the stretched area. Therefore, episodes of vertigo could frequently recur or become permanent, unresponsive to repositioning maneuvers since a progressively narrowed lumen would become a true barrier to otoconia passage. However, there are fewer explanations available for the absence of the classic auditory signs in this condition, except for conductive hearing loss. We hypothesize that an auto-plugging process develops slowly, perhaps concomitantly with the bone defect due to a local—as yet unknown—mechanism and that, as a result, no significant auditory signs have developed.

Young et al¹⁰ described the case of a 55-year-old patient with SSCD, in whom the clinical examination revealed a positional torsional and down-beating nystagmus suggestive of ipsilateral SC BPPV.¹⁰ Repositioning maneuvers were ineffective. The authors hypothesized "auto-plugged" dehiscence by intracranial contents, with "excitatory" nystagmus in the plane of the SC caused by the positional unblocking of the dehiscent canal in the supine position, producing an ampullofugal flow. In our opinion, our case report should be considered as either the natural evolution or a different clinical variant of the abovementioned case report. However, we describe a potential link between 2 neurological conditions, a true left anterior BPPV and left partial auto-plugged SSCD, strongly supported by appropriate labyrinthine imagery.

Conclusion

Furthermore, in cases of unexplained persistent BPPV, we support the previous opinion¹¹ that 3D HR MRI should be performed to exclude membrane deformations, which would promote otolithic blockage of the SC, including the cases of large and possibly auto-plugged SSCD.