Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Vertigo

ABSTRACT

Vertigo/dizziness is a common complaint in patients who are seeking a primary health clinic. Vertigo is traditionally attributed to damage of the vestibular system. Many peripheral and central vestibular disorders are usually presented with vertigo. However, patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a leading cause of vertigo, may present with postural lightheadedness, near faint, imbalance rather than true vertigo. On the contrary, patients with orthostatic hypotension may present with true spinning vertigo, not dizziness. Persistent postural perceptual dizziness, a second most common cause of dizziness (after BPPV), is mainly occurred after organic vestibular disorders such as BPPV or vestibular neuritis, and classified as a chronic functional vestibular disorder. This article describes non-vestibular disorders presenting dizziness and/or vertigos, which conditions may be misdiagnosed as structural vestibular disorders.