The dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal

Introduction Dizziness is a common symptom and a reason for patients to see an ENT doctor. A rare cause is a dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal, which can trigger a typical clinical picture.

Material and methods  Field report with retrospective analysis.

Results As a rule, the patients had several years of an odyssey with doctors of different disciplines behind them. Characteristic and groundbreaking were predominantly pressure-triggered dizzy spells, e.g. during sneezing or coughing. However, unspecific side effects such as a "feeling of fullness in the head" etc. of the patients, who sometimes appear to be psychologically superimposed, sometimes delay the targeted clarification. In addition to the anamnesis and functional tests, adequate imaging in the form of a high-resolution petrous bone CT in coronary orientation is the most important diagnostic measure. After extensive counselling, most of those affected initially did not ask for a surgical treatment to be carried out; in 6 patients the affected semicircular canal was eliminated by "plugging" via a transmastoid access. Postoperatively, the troublesome symptoms usually disappeared or at least were significantly improved. There was no deterioration in hearing in our collective.

Conclusion Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal leads to brief dizziness induced by increased pressure or loud noises, as well as audiological symptoms. Appropriate, targeted imaging to confirm the diagnosis in the form of a high-resolution coronary CT is essential. In our experience, for many patients to cope with their illness, precise information is sufficient; elimination of the semicircular canal is a dedicated treatment with acceptable invasiveness.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023