Reappraisal of the monothermal warm caloric screening test.

The usefulness of a monothermal warm caloric screening test (MWST) for predicting alternate binaural bithermal test abnormalities has been reexamined. Previously, researchers have reported false-negative rates for the MWST ranging from 0% to over 35%. Alternate binaural bithermal test data from 504 consecutive patients were evaluated with MWST failure criteria of 24.5% and 29%, with and without the addition of failure criteria from subtests of the electronystagmography examination. Sensitivity of the MWST alone was high, and improved with additional failure criteria. The specificity levels were correspondingly high. Results support the use of the MWST with adjunctive failure criteria when patients have otherwise normal electronystagmography findings.