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Vertigo classification

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

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]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Based on Location of Dysfunction
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time Course/Duration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Peripheral
 
Central
 
Lasting a Day or Longer
 
Lasting Minutes to Hours
 
Lasting Seconds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lesion in inner ear or vestibulocochlear nerve
 
Lesion in brainstem or cerebellum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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

  1. Dieterich, Marianne (2007). “Central vestibular disorders”. Journal of Neurology. 254 (5): 559–568. doi:10.1007/s00415-006-0340-7. ISSN 0340-5354.
  2. Karatas, Mehmet (2008). “Central Vertigo and Dizziness”. The Neurologist. 14 (6): 355–364. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e31817533a3. ISSN 1074-7931.
  3. 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.

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