An assessment of vertigo patients presenting to the otorhinolaryngology and neurology outpatient clinics

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 594 - 598, 04.07.2019

Selman Sarıca Yılmaz İnanç , Yusuf İnanç

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.408135

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Objective: Vertigo
is a general term used for disorientation and is a frequent cause of admission
to emergency services, otorhinolaryngology and neurology outpatient clinics. This
study aims to evaluate the clinical findings, diagnostic laboratory tests,
brain magnetic resonance imaging, and Doppler ultrasonography results of
patients with complaints of vertigo.

Methods: Patients
aged >18 years who admitted to the Otorhinolaryngology and Neurology Outpatient
clinics of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Training and Research Hospital
with the main complaint of vertigo between January 2017 and August 2017 were
retrospectively reviewed. The patients were evaluated in respect of anamnesis,
examination findings, and diagnostic tests (pure tone audiometry, video
nystagmography, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and carotid and vertebral
artery Doppler ultrasonography).

Results: The study
included a total of 101 patients with a mean age of 46.36 ± 16.1 years who
presented with the complaint of vertigo. Of the patients, 16 had an ischemic
gliotic region, 4 had a lacunar infarct, 2 had an arachnoid cyst, 2 had a
cerebellar infarct, 1 had a meningioma, and 1 had a pineal gland cyst on the
brain magnetic resonance imaging. Of the patients evaluated in the
Otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic, 87 (86.13%) were diagnosed with
peripheral vertigo and 14 (13.6%) with central vertigo. A diagnosis of central vertigo
was made in 23 (22.77%) patients evaluated in the Neurology outpatient clinic.

Conclusions: For
patients presenting with the complaint of vertigo to the otorhinolaryngology
and neurology outpatient clinics, a detailed anamnesis and a physical
examination precede specific vestibular tests in the diagnosis. A coordinated
communication of both clinics is important for a rapid diagnosis and prevention
of unnecessary examinations. 

Keywords

Vertigo, clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging, Doppler ultrasonography, pure tone audiometry, video nystagmography

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