Dizziness in the Outpatient Care Setting

Department

neurology

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Purpose of Review: This article summarizes an approach to evaluating dizziness for the general neurologist and reviews common and important causes of dizziness and vertigo. Recent Findings: Improved methods of diagnosing patients with vertigo and dizziness have been evolving, including additional diagnostic criteria and characterization of some common conditions that cause dizziness (eg, vestibular migraine, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, chronic subjective dizziness). Other uncommon causes of dizziness (eg, superior canal dehiscence syndrome, episodic ataxia type 2) have also been better clarified. Distinguishing between central and peripheral causes of vertigo can be accomplished reliably through history and examination, but imaging techniques have further added to accuracy. What has not changed is the necessity of obtaining a basic history of the patient's symptoms to narrow the list of possible causes. Summary: Dizziness and vertigo are extremely common symptoms that also affect function at home and at work. Improvements in the diagnosis and management of the syndromes that cause dizziness and vertigo will enhance patient care and cost efficiencies in a health care system with limited resources. Clinicians who evaluate patients with dizziness will serve their patient population well by continuing to manage patients with well-focused workup and attentive care.

Medical Subject Headings

neurology

Publication Date

2017

Publication Title

CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology

ISSN

1080-2371

Volume

23

Issue

2

First Page

359

Last Page

395

PubMed ID

28375910

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1212/CON.0000000000000450

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