Review Article Address correspondence to Dr Terry D. Fife, Barrow Dizziness in the Neurological Institute, 240 West Thomas Rd, Suite 301, Phoenix, AZ 85013, Outpatient Care Setting
[email protected]. Relationship Disclosure: Terry D. Fife, MD, FAAN Dr Fife serves on the editorial boards of Barrow Quarterly and Neurology. Unlabeled Use of ABSTRACT Products/Investigational Purpose of Review: This article summarizes an approach to evaluating dizziness for Use Disclosure: Dr Fife discusses the the general neurologist and reviews common and important causes of dizziness unlabeled/investigational and vertigo. use of acetazolamide, Recent Findings: Improved methods of diagnosing patients with vertigo and venlafaxine, and zonisamide for the treatment of dizziness have been evolving, including additional diagnostic criteria and charac- vestibular migraine. terization of some common conditions that cause dizziness (eg, vestibular migraine, * 2017 American Academy benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, chronic subjective dizziness). Other uncommon of Neurology. causes of dizziness (eg, superior canal dehiscence syndrome, episodic ataxia type 2) have also been better clarified. Distinguishing between central and peripheral causes of vertigo can be accomplished reliably through history and examination, but imaging techniques have further added to accuracy. What has not changed is the necessity of obtaining a basic history of the patient’s symptoms to narrow the list of possible causes. Summary: Dizziness and vertigo are extremely common symptoms that also affect function at home and at work. Improvements in the diagnosis and management of the syndromes that cause dizziness and vertigo will enhance patient care and cost efficiencies in a health care system with limited resources. Clinicians who evaluate patients with dizziness will serve their patient population well by continuing to manage patients with well-focused workup and attentive care.