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 classification
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Vertigo is typically classified into one of two categories depending on the location of the damaged vestibular pathway. These are peripheral or central vertigo. It can also be classified into 3 sub groups based on duration of vertigo. Each category has a distinct set of characteristics and associated findings.
Classification
Classification
Vertigo may be classified according to location of dysfunction into 2 subtypes and according to time course/duration into 3 subtypes:
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Classification of Vertigo[1][2][3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |  | Based on Location of Dysfunction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Time Course/Duration |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Peripheral | Â | Central | Â | Lasting a Day or Longer | Â | Lasting Minutes to Hours | Â | Lasting Seconds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Lesion in inner ear or vestibulocochlear nerve | Â | Lesion in brainstem or cerebellum | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | ||||||||||||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| Ménière’s disease Benign positional paroxysmal vertigo Acute labyrinthitis Acute vestibular neuronitis Cholesteatoma Otosclerosis Perilymphatic fistula Acoustic Neuroma |  | Brainstem Stroke Vestibular Migraine Multiple Sclerosis Cerebellar ischemia or hemorrhage Cerebellar tumors Lateral medullary syndrome Chiari malformation |  | Vestibular neuronitis Vertebrobasilar ischemia with labyrinth infarct Brainstem stroke Inferior cerebellar infarct/bleed |  | Ménière’s disease Vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attack (TIA) Migraine Headache Perilymph fistula |  | Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
References
- ↑ Dieterich, Marianne (2007). “Central vestibular disorders”. Journal of Neurology. 254 (5): 559–568. doi:10.1007/s00415-006-0340-7. ISSN 0340-5354.
- ↑ Karatas, Mehmet (2008). “Central Vertigo and Dizziness”. The Neurologist. 14 (6): 355–364. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e31817533a3. ISSN 1074-7931.
- ↑ Guerraz, M. (2001). “Visual vertigo: symptom assessment, spatial orientation and postural control”. Brain. 124 (8): 1646–1656. doi:10.1093/brain/124.8.1646. ISSN 1460-2156.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Zehra Malik, M.B.B.S[2]