[Jugular bulb diverticulum mimicking Menière's disease. Surgical treatment]

The position of the jugular bulb is extremely variable. A high jugular fossa with a diverticulum of the jugular bulb can alter the inner ear function with neurosensory hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus. Six cases of jugular bulb diverticulum with vertigo mimicking Meniere's disease were operated on and followed up from 6 months to 4 years. The jugular bulb was approached through a mastoidectomy and the diverticulum was decompressed downward using bone wax. The vertigo disappeared after surgery in all the cases. These observations suggest that an abnormality of the jugular bulb should be considered as a possible origin of Meniere's disease and that vertigo can be cured by downward decompression of the diverticulum.