Forty nine elderly patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and on whom carotid angiography had been performed were divided into two groups. In one 36 patients had vestibular symptoms whereas the other group of remaining patients was free of such symptoms. Comparison of both groups showed that vertigo (20 patients), other vestibular symptoms or nystagmus were not solely related to vertebral artery stenosis. In fact stenosis of one or both vertebral arteries was found in only nine patients.