Myths In Emergency Medicine Diagnostic Imaging For Dizziness

“Doctor, I’m feeling dizzy…” What you need to know:

• CT is worthless and expensive in the evaluation of dizziness.
• MRI has much better utility but is often unnecessary for the complaint of dizziness.
• Nystagmus is an unreliable sign and does not differentiate serious neurological disease from other causes of dizziness.
• Gait instability or imbalance, other subtle neurological findings, and age >60 years are predictors of stroke or other serious neurological diseases causing dizziness – Do an MRI NOT CT
• Isolated dizziness is very unlikely to be serious or to require an extensive diagnostic evaluation.