Vertigo CT

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Zehra Malik, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

CT scan is not the first-line imaging method preferred to determine the underlying cause of central vertigo due to its low sensitivity in identifying ischemic stroke and a negative CT scan cannot completely rule out the central cause of vertigo, it still needs to be further investigated with the help of an MRI.

CT

CT scan or computerized axial tomography (CAT) of head and/or labyrinth may be necessary to identify the central cause of vertigo: ischemic stroke, cerebellopontine angle tumor, multiple sclerosis.
A negative CT scan cannot exclude the central cause of vertigo and it should be followed by an MRI.^[1]
CT scan has low sensitivity for identifying ischemic stroke as compared to an MRI.^[1]
If MRI is contraindicated then a thin cut CT scan can be used^[2].

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Lawhn-Heath C, Buckle C, Christoforidis G, Straus C (2013). “Utility of head CT in the evaluation of vertigo/dizziness in the emergency department”. Emerg Radiol. 20 (1): 45–9. doi:10.1007/s10140-012-1071-y. PMID 22940762.
↑ Hotson JR, Baloh RW (1998). “Acute vestibular syndrome”. N Engl J Med. 339 (10): 680–5. doi:10.1056/NEJM199809033391007. PMID 9725927.

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[pmid22940762-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Lawhn-Heath C, Buckle C, Christoforidis G, Straus C (2013). “Utility of head CT in the evaluation of vertigo/dizziness in the emergency department”. Emerg Radiol. 20 (1): 45–9. doi:10.1007/s10140-012-1071-y. PMID 22940762.

[pmid9725927-2] Hotson JR, Baloh RW (1998). “Acute vestibular syndrome”. N Engl J Med. 339 (10): 680–5. doi:10.1056/NEJM199809033391007. PMID 9725927.

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