title: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
abstract: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a common disorder of the inner ear that should be suspected in all patients with a history of positionally provoked vertigo. The condition appears to be caused by free-floating debris in the posterior semicircular canal. The diagnosis is confirmed by eliciting characteristic symptoms and signs during the Dix-Hallpike test. Although benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is usually a self-limited disorder, treatment with a specific bedside maneuver is effective and can provide the patient immediate and long-lasting relief. Although many patients with positionally provoked vertigo have typical benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, physicians should be aware of nonbenign variants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA. furman@pitt.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Furman
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cass
mesh_terms: D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D002137:Calculi / Q000737:chemistry; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000473:pathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate