Use of electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Meniere's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of Meniere's disease has always been a source of confusion. There is no single test that is definitive for the diagnosis. Recent advances have enabled clinicians to noninvasively test the function of the inner ear and its associated neural pathways. The electrocochleogram (ECOG) has been advocated as a reliable test that is diagnostic for Meniere's disease. This study was undertaken to assess the value of ECOG in establishing the diagnosis of Meniere's disease.

STUDY DESIGN: Patients who were suspected of having Meniere's disease were prospectively entered into a study of the diagnostic value of ECOG. Each patient had a complete evaluation including a detailed history, physical examination, laboratory studies, and audiometric tests.

SETTING: University otolaryngology clinic.

PATIENTS: A group of 199 patients who presented to a neurotology clinic and were suspected to have symptoms consistent with Meniere's disease.

INTERVENTION: ECOG testing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Audiometric thresholds, action potential magnitude (AP), summating potential amplitude (SP), AP latency, and clinical evaluations were assessed.

RESULTS: The ECOG was found to correlate with historical and audiometric criteria that are used to diagnose the disease. The percentage of abnormal ECOG did not correlate with stage of disease or duration of time that symptoms were present.

CONCLUSIONS: The ECOG has limited value in the diagnosis of Meniere's disease. It appears to correlate with the length of time patients experience symptoms and their audiometric findings. It was not correlated with the number of symptoms that the patient experienced at the time that the study was conducted.