Objectives: When the vascular disorder of the cochleovestibular system is mentioned, the diagnosis is based on exclusion of other diseases. Since arteries of the cochleovestibular system cannot be directly visualized, physicians must deduce from the vascular risk factors and the vascular lesion of other territories to the vascular cochleovestibular disease.
Materials and methods: Authors analyzed the data of 19 patients with vertigo. Detailed blood tests, complete neurootological and audiological examination including ABR, carotid and vertebral artery Doppler sonography, MRI and MRA was performed.
Results: Cochleovestibular examination and ABR showed abnormalities in 73.7%, either carotid and vertebral artery Doppler or MRI showed abnormalities in 57.9%. MRA was abnormal in 47.4%. In most of the patients multiple risk factors of cerebrovascular disorder could be found.
Conclusions: The cochleovestibular system disorders can be considered to be of vascular origin if the examinations exclude other diseases, if the patients have vascular risk factors and if other territories of brain accessible for imaging methods show vascular disorders.