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
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
- 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
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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