Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis

<b>Introduction</b>: Masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (M-VEMPs) are a recent tool for assessing a vestibulo-trigeminal pathway departing from the saccule, similarly to cervical VEMPs (C-VEMPs), that evaluate saccular function via the sternocleidomastoid muscle. M-VEMPs may...

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Main Authors: Francesco Comacchio, Giulia Zattoni, Valerio Maria Di Pasquale Fiasca, Paola Magnavita, Barbara Bellemo, Elena Fasanaro, Elisabetta Poletto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Audiology Research
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/15/3/63
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author Francesco Comacchio
Giulia Zattoni
Valerio Maria Di Pasquale Fiasca
Paola Magnavita
Barbara Bellemo
Elena Fasanaro
Elisabetta Poletto
author_facet Francesco Comacchio
Giulia Zattoni
Valerio Maria Di Pasquale Fiasca
Paola Magnavita
Barbara Bellemo
Elena Fasanaro
Elisabetta Poletto
author_sort Francesco Comacchio
collection DOAJ
description <b>Introduction</b>: Masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (M-VEMPs) are a recent tool for assessing a vestibulo-trigeminal pathway departing from the saccule, similarly to cervical VEMPs (C-VEMPs), that evaluate saccular function via the sternocleidomastoid muscle. M-VEMPs may offer a complementary diagnostic value in vestibular neuritis (VN). <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective study analysed M-VEMPs and C-VEMPs in 28 monolateral patients and 1 bilateral (30 ears) diagnosed with VN between 2023 and 2024. Diagnostic evaluation included video head impulse tests (VHIT), caloric tests, ocular VEMPs, and, in a few cases, electromyography (EMG) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. M-VEMPs were elicited using 500 Hz tone bursts at 97 dB nHL. Results were compared based on the topography of vestibular involvement and muscle response concordance. <b>Results</b>: M-VEMPs were always present in patients with superior VN and intact saccular function, showing consistent results with normal C-VEMPs. In some cases, with saccular dysfunction, M-VEMPs were preserved despite the absence of C-VEMPs, suggesting greater robustness. One patient with herpes zoster (HZ) involving both the VIII and trigeminal nerves showed absent M-VEMPs, indicating trigeminal pathway involvement. Edentulous patients showed reduced or absent M-VEMPs due to compromised masseter muscle electromyography activity. <b>Conclusions</b>: M-VEMPs are reliable and often concordant with C-VEMPs in VN but may reveal additional diagnostic information in discordant or complex cases. They are particularly useful in identifying trigeminal involvement but are limited in patients with poor masseter muscle function. Further studies are needed to clarify their full diagnostic potential.
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spelling doaj-art-811cf0d7d1df4205b734741f4604253b2025-08-20T03:26:25ZengMDPI AGAudiology Research2039-43492025-05-011536310.3390/audiolres15030063Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular NeuritisFrancesco Comacchio0Giulia Zattoni1Valerio Maria Di Pasquale Fiasca2Paola Magnavita3Barbara Bellemo4Elena Fasanaro5Elisabetta Poletto6Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, ItalyOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, ItalyOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, ItalyOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, ItalyOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, ItalyOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, ItalyOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Regional Vertigo Specialized Centre, Sant’Antonio Hospital, University Hospital of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy<b>Introduction</b>: Masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (M-VEMPs) are a recent tool for assessing a vestibulo-trigeminal pathway departing from the saccule, similarly to cervical VEMPs (C-VEMPs), that evaluate saccular function via the sternocleidomastoid muscle. M-VEMPs may offer a complementary diagnostic value in vestibular neuritis (VN). <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective study analysed M-VEMPs and C-VEMPs in 28 monolateral patients and 1 bilateral (30 ears) diagnosed with VN between 2023 and 2024. Diagnostic evaluation included video head impulse tests (VHIT), caloric tests, ocular VEMPs, and, in a few cases, electromyography (EMG) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. M-VEMPs were elicited using 500 Hz tone bursts at 97 dB nHL. Results were compared based on the topography of vestibular involvement and muscle response concordance. <b>Results</b>: M-VEMPs were always present in patients with superior VN and intact saccular function, showing consistent results with normal C-VEMPs. In some cases, with saccular dysfunction, M-VEMPs were preserved despite the absence of C-VEMPs, suggesting greater robustness. One patient with herpes zoster (HZ) involving both the VIII and trigeminal nerves showed absent M-VEMPs, indicating trigeminal pathway involvement. Edentulous patients showed reduced or absent M-VEMPs due to compromised masseter muscle electromyography activity. <b>Conclusions</b>: M-VEMPs are reliable and often concordant with C-VEMPs in VN but may reveal additional diagnostic information in discordant or complex cases. They are particularly useful in identifying trigeminal involvement but are limited in patients with poor masseter muscle function. Further studies are needed to clarify their full diagnostic potential.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/15/3/63vestibular evoked myogenic potentialsmasseter-VEMPsM-VEMPsMVEMPSCVEMPSOVEMPS
spellingShingle Francesco Comacchio
Giulia Zattoni
Valerio Maria Di Pasquale Fiasca
Paola Magnavita
Barbara Bellemo
Elena Fasanaro
Elisabetta Poletto
Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis
Audiology Research
vestibular evoked myogenic potentials
masseter-VEMPs
M-VEMPs
MVEMPS
CVEMPS
OVEMPS
title Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis
title_full Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis
title_fullStr Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis
title_full_unstemmed Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis
title_short Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (M-VEMPs) in Vestibular Neuritis
title_sort masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potentials m vemps in vestibular neuritis
topic vestibular evoked myogenic potentials
masseter-VEMPs
M-VEMPs
MVEMPS
CVEMPS
OVEMPS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/15/3/63
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