Diagnosis dan Tatalaksana Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25077/jokli.v5i1.108Keywords:
Tullio phenomenon, HRCT, Superior canal dehiscence syndrome, Third window, VEMPAbstract
Diagnosis and Management of Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome
Background: Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SCDS) is a vestibulocochlear disorder caused by a bony defect in the superior semicircular canal, creating a pathological third window in the labyrinth. This condition produces a variety of vestibular and auditory manifestations that significantly impair quality of life. Objective: To know and understand the diagnosis and management of superior canal dehiscence syndrome. Literature Review: The etiology of SCDS may be congenital or acquired. The primary pathophysiology relates to the third window mechanism that disrupts acoustic energy transmission and generates abnormal pressure pathways within the labyrinth. Characteristic vestibular symptoms include the Tullio phenomenon, Hennebert sign, oscillopsia, and disequilibrium, while cochlear symptoms encompass autophony, bone-conduction hyperacusis, pulsatile tinnitus, and low-frequency conductive hearing loss. Diagnosis is established based on the Barany Society triadic criteria: clinical symptoms, neurophysiological testing (VEMP, audiometry), and High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) imaging with multiplanar reconstruction. Conservative management is indicated for mild cases, while surgical treatment, via the middle cranial fossa (MCF) or transmastoid (TM) approach, is recommended for patients with severe, debilitating symptoms. Conclusion: Superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) is a third mobile window disorder caused by a bony defect of the superior semicircular canal, resulting in vestibular and auditory symptoms. Diagnosis is established through an integrative approach based on the Bárány Society criteria, incorporating clinical correlation, VEMP and/or audiometry, and high-resolution CT imaging. Management is stepwise, with surgical intervention (plugging or resurfacing) serving as the definitive treatment in severely symptomatic cases to eliminate the pathological pathway and improve clinical outcomes.
References
Ward BK, van de Berg R, van Rompaey V, Bisdorff A, Hullar TE, Welgampola MS, et al. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome: diagnostic criteria consensus document of the Committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society. J Vestib Res. 2021;31(3):131–141.
Ward BK, Carey JP. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome. Curr Opin Neurol. 2021;34(1):104–110.
Morrison M, Korda A, Wagner F, Caversaccio MD, Mantokoudis G. Case Report: Fremitus Nystagmus in Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome. Front Neurol. 2022;13:844687.
Almarghalani DA, Alotaibi RA, Alzlami TT, Alhumaidi OF, Alharthi NM, Alboqami FM, et al. Clinical Insights into Sickle Cell Disease: A Comprehensive Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes Across Different Age Groups. J Clin Med. 2024;13(23):7224.
Nagururu NV, Jung D, Hui F, Pearl MS, Carey JP, Ward BK. Cochlear Aqueduct Morphology in Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome. Audiol Res. 2023;13(3):367-377.
Jackler RK, Maria PL. Neurotology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2021. Chapter 32, Disorders of the labyrinthine windows and canal dehiscence; p. 411–428.
Van Dijk SW, Peters JPM, Stokroos RJ, Thomeer HGXM. Surgical decision-making in superior canal dehiscence syndrome with concomitant otosclerosis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2024;281(7):3859–3864.
Whyte-Orozco J, Cisneros-Gimeno AI, García-Barrios A, Lozano-Langarita ME, Whyte-Orozco A, Rubio-Aranda E. Association of the superior semicircular canal and tegmen tympani dehiscences and its relationship with the pneumatisation of the temporal bone. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2024;281(3):1267-1272.
Eberhard KE, Chari DA, Nakajima HH, Klokker M, Cayé-Thomasen P, Lee DJ. Current trends, controversies, and future directions in the evaluation and management of superior canal dehiscence syndrome. Front Neurol. 2021;12:638574. p. 1–22.
Lorente-Piera J, Manrique-Huarte R, Fernández N, Calavia D, Vázquez M, Domínguez P, et al. The Third Mobile Window Syndrome: A Clinical Spectrum of Different Anatomical Locations - Characterization, Therapeutic Response, and Implications in the Development of Endolymphatic Hydrops. J Clin Med. 2024;13(23):7232.
Pisano DV, Niesten MEF, Merchant SN, Nakajima HH. The effect of superior semicircular canal dehiscence on intracochlear sound pressures. Audiol Neurootol. 2021;26(2):95–103.
Formeister EJ, Rizk HG, Sharon JD. Traumatic events preceding the development of superior canal dehiscence syndrome. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024;170(2):345–352.
Gioacchini FM, Alicandri-Ciufelli M, Kaleci S, Magliulo G, Presutti L, Re M. Outcomes and complications in superior semicircular canal dehiscence surgery: a systematic review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021;278(5):1265–1275.
Waldeck S, Lanfermann H, von Falck C, Froelich MF, Chapot R, Brockmann MA, et al. New classification of superior semicircular canal dehiscence in HRCT. PLoS One. 2022;17(1):e0262758. p. 1–12.
Castellucci A, Dumas G, Abuzaid SM, Armato E, Martellucci S, Malara P, et al. Posterior semicircular canal dehiscence with vestibulo-ocular reflex reduction for the affected canal at the video-head impulse test: considerations to pathomechanisms. Audiol Res. 2024;14(3):317–332.
Dlugaiczyk J. Rare Disorders of the Vestibular Labyrinth: of Zebras, Chameleons and Wolves in Sheep's Clothing. Seltene Erkrankungen des vestibulären Labyrinths: von Zebras, Chamäleons und Wölfen im Schafspelz. Laryngorhinootologie. 2021;100(S 01):S1-S40.
Maheu M, Elblidi A, Saliba I. Investigating Performance of cVEMP and oVEMP in the Identification of Superior Canal Dehiscence in Relation to Dehiscence Location and Size. Audiol Res. 2021;11(3):452-462.
Castellucci A, Malara P, Martellucci S, Alfarghal M, Brandolini C, Piras G, et al. Impaired vestibulo-ocular reflex on video head impulse test in superior canal dehiscence: “spontaneous plugging” or endolymphatic flow dissipation? Audiol Res. 2023;13(5):802–820.
Suzuki M, Ota Y, Takanami T, Yoshino R, Masuda H. Superior canal dehiscence syndrome: a review. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2024;51(1):113–119.
Tunkel A, Carey JP, Pearl M. Flat panel computed tomography in the diagnosis of superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome. Otol Neurotol. 2021;42(3):213–217.
Lorente-Piera J, Prieto-Matos C, Perez Fernandez N, Blanco-Pareja M, Calavia Gil D, Manrique M, et al. Insights from therapeutic strategies in superior canal dehiscence syndrome: is there anything beyond surgical treatment?. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2025;282(1):103–112.
Tooker M, Carlson ML, Van Abel KM, Driscoll CLW, Haynes DS, Link MJ, et al. Surgical outcomes of middle cranial fossa versus transmastoid approach in superior canal dehiscence syndrome. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024;170(4):1157–1164.
Schwartz SR, Almosnino G, Noonan KY, Banakis Hartl RM, Zeitler DM, Saunders JE, et al. Comparison of transmastoid and middle fossa approaches for superior canal dehiscence repair: a multi-institutional study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;161(1):130–136
Suresh K, Garcia A, Bartholomew RA, Song Y, Lee DJ. Auditory and Vestibular Symptom Improvement With Surgery for Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023;169(4):1005-1011.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Rio Mulya Riharta, Rossy Rosalinda, Muhammad Dilga Caesario

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.











