differential diagnosis
Last reviewed 07/2023
- the duration of vertiginous episodes and the presence or absence of auditory symptoms helps to arrive at a specific diagnosis (1)
pathology | duration
of episode | associated auditory
syptoms | peripheral or central origin
|
benign paroxysmal positional
vertigo | seconds | no | peripheral |
vestibular neuronitis | days
| no | peripheral |
Ménière's disease | hours
| yes | peripheral |
perilymphatic fistula | seconds | yes | peripheral |
transient ischemic attack | seconds
to hours | no | central
|
vertiginous migraine | hours | no | central |
labyrinthitis | days
| yes | peripheral |
stroke | days | no | central
|
acoustic neuroma | months
| yes | peripheral |
cerebellar tumor | months | no
| central |
multiple
sclerosis | months | no | central |
Note:
- 93% of primary care patients with vertigo have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), acute vestibular neuronitis, or Ménière's disease. (2) (see table above )
Reference: