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.

EMKF

Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is a not-for-profit (NGO) public benefit organisation registered in Kenya