title: Importance of accurate diagnosis in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the importance of accurate topological diagnostics of the otolith and the differentiation of certain clinical forms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted at the County General Hospital Vukovar in the period from January 2011 till January 2012. A total of 81 patients with BPPV, 59 females (72.84%) and 22 (27.16%) males (p less than 0.001), mean age 60.1 (± 12.1) were examined. The diagnosis was confirmed and documented by videonystagmography (VNG). The disability due to disease and risk of falling were monitored by filling in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) questionnaires at the beginning and at the end of the repositioning treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 79 (97.3%) patients posterior semicircular canal was affected, and in a small number of patients, two (2.47%) the lateral one. After the repositioning procedures were performed, there was a significant reduction or complete elimination of symptoms in the majority of subjects, 76 (93.82%). The median total DHI sum amounted to 50.5 (± 22.2) at the beginning and 20.4 (± 18.5) at the end of the study (p less than 0.00). Similarly, the results of ABC questionnaires at the beginning of the study demonstrated a result of 59.2% (± 22.4%), and at the end of the treatment the average result of examinees was significantly higher, 84.9% (± 15.2%) (p less than 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a subjectively positive Dix-Hallpike or a "supine roll" test is sufficient for the diagnosis of BPPV, it is necessary perform the VNG as well in order to precisely determine the exact localization of the otolith, so that an appropriate repositioning procedure can be applied.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Otolaryngology, County General Hospital Vukovar, 2Department of Otolaryngology, General Hospital "Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, 3Department of Neurology, Clinical Hospital Center, Osijek; Croatia.
authors.forename: Siniša
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maslovara
authors.forename: Tihana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vešligaj
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Butković Soldo
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pajić-Penavić
authors.forename: Karmela
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maslovara
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mirošević Zubonja
authors.forename: Anamarija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soldo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D065635:Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004584:Electronystagmography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology