Ménière's disease
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1946Author
MacNaughton, I. P. J.
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Abstract
A fresh translation has been made from Ménière's original
papers and a selection taken from the literature showing the
progress that has been made in the investigation and treatment
of the condition he described. Ménière's definition pf a disease of the internal auditory
apparatus associated with paroxysmal vertigo and tinnitus progressing
to a variable deafness still remains valid. Histological examination of the labyrinth has shown conclusively
that there is a general dilatation of the endolymph
system with a degeneration of the sensory epithelium. The
presence of central changes is shown by the failure of a percentage
of cases to respond to section of the eighth nerve. Observation of the course of the disease has shown that
it is subject to remissions and in some cases spontaneous cure. The majority of cases can be controlled by simple medical
treatment such as the elimination of sepsis and regulation of
the fluid metabolism. In some cases there has been proved an allergic or vasomotor
basis to the condition. Cases resistant to medical treatment may be relieved by
destruction of the labyrinth by alcohol injection, or by section
of the eighth nerve, or its vestibular branch. There remain a very few patients who are not benefited by
the most drastic surgical treatment because of some unknown
central degenerative changes.