Methodology for Skull Tap Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (Tap-cVEMP)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to present a methodology of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials registered from sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) using skull tap stimulation (Tap-cVEMP) in a patient with cerebellopontine angle tumor (CPAT). Material and methods: A 23-year-old female with CPAT. The methodology of Tap-cVEMP is introduced. The results of VEMP is confronted with surgical information about the tumor. Results: The results of AC-cVEMP and Tap-cVEMP revealed the inferior vestibular nerve bundle to be affected by the tumor with intact superior bundle. Information obtained from VEMP was confirmed during surgery. Conclusion: Skull Tap Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (Tap-cVEMP) may be the useful method in the diagnostics of CPAT. AC-cVEMP and Tap-cVEMP may be helpful to evaluate the functional integrity of both vestibular nerve bundles providing the information about their involvement in the pathological process