Cisplatin vestibular ototoxicity: preliminary report

Sixteen patients were monitored for vestibular ototoxicity while receiving cisplatin in dosages of 180 mg/M2. The incidence of preexisting vestibular functional abnormalities (31%) was higher than the incidence of ototoxicity (18%). Although the number of patients was not large enough for meaningful statistical comparison, the incidence of vestibular ototoxicity from cisplatin was low for the dosage levels employed. Based upon the results of this study, the following recommendations are made for monitoring cisplatin vestibular ototoxicity. 1. All patients should receive vestibular tests prior to cisplatin administration. 2. Subjects, who have reduced (or asymmetric) vestibular function upon pretherapy testing, should be monitored at least weekly for any change in function while receiving cisplatin. 3. Subjects who are normal prior to therapy need to be tested only when cumulative doses exceed 400 mg. The severe nausea and vomiting associated with cisplatin chemotherapy is not related to vestibular ototoxicity.