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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
09:52
Trans-Tympanic Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Ototoxicity
Published on: March 16, 2018
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Changes in vestibular and cochlear function following platinum-based chemotherapy: A preliminary report.
Katerina Ehlert1,2, Barbara Heinze1,3, Marien A Graham4
1Department Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal
|September 2, 2022
Summary
Platinum-based chemotherapy can cause hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction, particularly in the left ear. Video head impulse testing (VHIT) effectively monitors these changes, even without reported symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicity research
- Neuroscience
- Clinical audiology
Background:
- Platinum-based chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment.
- Chemotherapy-induced ototoxicity can affect both hearing and balance.
- Monitoring for ototoxicity is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in vestibular and cochlear function in patients undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy.
- To evaluate the utility of various assessment tools for monitoring ototoxicity.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 32 participants (aged 10-70 years) receiving chemotherapy.
- Baseline and exit assessments included video head impulse testing (VHIT), vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), dynamic visual acuity (DVA), and pure-tone audiometry.
- Testing was conducted at the patient's treatment venue.
Main Results:
- 50% of participants exhibited cochleotoxicity, with left ears more affected than right ears.
- No clear correlation was found between hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction.
- VHIT and VEMP showed significant declines from baseline to exit testing (p < 0.05).
- VHIT indicated significantly greater dysfunction in left ears.
Conclusions:
- Video head impulse testing (VHIT) is a valuable tool for detecting vestibular dysfunction caused by ototoxicity.
- Vestibulotoxicity criteria and optimal monitoring protocols require further investigation.
- Despite objective findings, participants did not report subjective vestibular symptoms.
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