Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Vertigo CT
Introduction
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.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Zehra Malik, M.B.B.S[2]