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Diagnosis of Vertigo
Differential Diagnosis of Vertigo
Vertigo can be a symptom of several different medical conditions. A differential diagnosis is the process used by doctors to determine the specific underlying condition most likely responsible for the patient's symptoms by ruling out other possible causes. The most important distinction to make in the differential diagnosis of vertigo is if it is compatible with a peripheral origin or central vestibular origin. Some of the conditions to consider or to rule out may include:
Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Meniere's disease
- labyrinthitis
- vestibular neuritis
- perilymphatic fistula
Central Vestibular Dysfunction
- basilar artery migraine
- acoustic neuroma
- cerebellar infarction
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
Drug or alcohol induced vertigo
- Orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when changing position such as sitting up after lying down)
- Systemic inflammatory diseases
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Anemia
- Heart failure
