Inferior peduncle lesion presenting with bilaterally impaired vestibular responses to horizontal and posterior head impulses

Abstract

Differentiating central from peripheral origins of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) lesions can be challenging. A 36-year old man presented with a 1-year history of progressive unsteadiness. The video-Head Impulse Test revealed a significantly reduced VOR gain in both horizontal and posterior canals (0.49 ± 0.05 and 0.38 ± 0.06) but normal VOR responses in both anterior canals (0.89 ± 0.08 and 1.04 ± 0.15). No plausible combination of end-organ lesion should be responsible for these observations. A brain magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a left inferior cerebellar peduncle lesion suggestive of a glioma.

Keywords: cerebellar lesion; vestibular; vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR).