Cerebellar infarction--a presentation of vertigo.
The differential diagnosis of acute vertigo includes cerebellar infarction. In the past a mortality rate of 50% - 80% was reported with cerebellar infarction. This is no doubt related to an inability to accurately diagnose small lesions which carry a better prognosis. The advent of computerized tomography (CT) now permits accurate diagnosis of small cerebellar infarctions. Seven patients admitted with acute onset of vertigo which mimicked a peripheral labyrinthine disorder are presented. In all patients a cerebellar etiology was demonstrated by CT. One patient had been subjected to therapeutic labyrinthectomy; three of seven patients had associated unilateral hearing loss suggesting partial brain stem involvemtation. Computerized tomography should be included in the routine work-up of acute vertigo with any associated neurologic findings to aid in proper diagnosis and effect appropriate treatment.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*