[Vertigo and middle ear pathology]

The association of vertigo and diseases of the middle ear is not uncommon. It occurs especially during the course of chronic or acute otitis but can also occur as a sequela. Vestibular involvement is due to several pathophysiological mechanisms that influence the choice of treatment. The same is true for expansive processes of the tympanic cavity. When associated to otospongiosis, vertigo occurring during Ménière's disease can transiently contraindicate an operation on the tapes. On the contrary, vertigo resulting from traumatic lesion of the middle ear can suggest surgical intervention. Surgery of the middle ear can itself cause severe vertigo which sometimes requires a new operation. Lastly, the fortuitous association of disease of the middle ear with labyrinth disease, especially retrolabyrinthic such as eighth cranial nerve neurinome, is not uncommon, but can be long overlooked if it is not routinely suggested in the presence of labyrinth type symptoms.