Bilateral Vestibular Failure May Improve With Treatment of the Underlying Condition: A Report of 2 Cases

Abstract

Introduction: Bilateral vestibular failure (BVF) is an uncommon condition with numerous etiologies. It causes chronic oscillopsia and imbalance and is usually irreversible. We report 2 cases of BVF due to unusual causes, both of which improved with treatment of the underlying condition.

Case reports: The first patient was a 39-year-old female who developed profound BVF due to neurosarcoidosis. She was started on steroids and azathioprine and her vestibular function gradually improved, with essentially normal function 4.5 years after starting treatment. The second patient was a 54-year-old female who developed BVF in the context of glucagonoma. After treatment with octreotide, her vestibular function improved to almost normal, and she thus met the criteria for a probable paraneoplastic syndrome.

Conclusions: While BVF is usually permanent, this report demonstrates that some cases are likely to be reversible with treatment of the underlying cause. It is therefore imperative for clinicians to ensure that patients with BVF are thoroughly investigated.