Patients with an acoustic neurinoma examined with a tilting room

Patients with acoustic neurinomas do not usually show vertigo or spontaneous nystagmus, suggesting a gradual decrease of vestibular function with adequate compensation. Seventeen patients with acoustic neurinoma were examined to test their postural control. Examination in the tilting room showed a visual dominance in postural control with these patients irrespective of involvement of the central vestibular system. The subjective horizon was determined in addition to routine audiovestibular examination, to be informed about the compensation process. When routine audiovestibular examination points to an acoustic neurinoma, a pathological subjective horizon favours the diagnosis, although this is not mandatory. The combination of tilting room and stabilometry is superior in detecting visual dominance to the standard Romberg test.