BACKGROUND: essential tremors are family-related in about 50% of the cases with an autosomal inheritance and they register an insidious beginning with a slow progression. PROCEDURE: a 59 year old, white female patient, married and whose occupation is a plastic artist with a history of head tremors since she was two years (sic) old was evaluated in the Otoneurology sector of a private hospital, during the period from February 2007. The patient had been complaining of dizziness from unknown origin for several months without accompanying nausea and/or falls. She denied any loss of muscular strength or tingling in her upper and lower members and neither any lowering of her auditory sharpness nor buzzing. The patient informed that one of her children suffered hand tremors two years ago and also that both grandparents had Parkinson’s disease. The following procedures were performed: anamnesis, otological inspection and vestibular evaluation through vectoelectronystagmography. RESULTS: the following findings from the vestibular exam were observed: positioning nystagmus with central characteristics, spontaneous nystagmus with the eyes open, semi-spontaneous nystagmus of the multiple and hyperreflexia type in readings absolute to the caloric test at 20ºC (RE and LE). CONCLUSION: the vestibular exam was shown to be sensitive and important for garnering alterations in tests that suggested involvement of the central nervous system.
Essential tremor; Vertigo; Nystagmus; Physiologic; Vestibular Function Tests