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Treatment of Vertigo

TABLE 1
Differential Diagnosis of Vertigo

DURATION OF AUDITORY PREVALENCE PERIPHERAL OR

DISORDER
EPISODES SYMPTOMS CENTRAL VERTIGO

Benign Seconds No Common Peripheral

paroxysmal
positional vertigo
Perilymphatic fistula Seconds Yes Uncommon Peripheral
(head trauma,
barotrauma)

Vascular ischemia: Seconds to Usually not Uncommon Central or peripheral*

transient ischemic attack hours

Mnires disease Hours Yes Common Peripheral

Syphilis Hours Yes Uncommon Peripheral

Vertiginous migraine Hours No Common Central

Labyrinthine concussion Days Yes Uncommon Peripheral

Labyrinthitis Days Yes Common Peripheral

Vascular ischemia: Days Usually not Uncommon Central or peripheral*

stroke

Vestibular neuronitis Days No Common Peripheral

Anxiety disorder Variable Usually not Common Unspecified

Acoustic neuroma Months Yes Uncommon Peripheral

Cerebellar degeneration Months No Uncommon Central

Cerebellar tumor Months No Uncommon Central

Multiple sclerosis Months No Uncommon Central

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 DURATION OF AUDITORY PERIPHERAL OR
DISORDER PREVALENCE
EPISODES SYMPTOMS CENTRAL VERTIGO

Vestibular ototoxicity Months Yes Uncommon Peripheral

*Vertigo can be caused by vascular ischemia in the central vertebrobasilar circulation or the peripheral circulation
to the vestibular nerve and labyrinth.1

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