title: Cerebellar haemorrhage mimicking acute peripheral vestibulopathy: the role of the video head impulse test in differential diagnosis.
abstract: Dizziness and vertigo without neurological signs are typically due to a peripheral vestibular disease. Although the most common causes are benign, differential diagnosis must include potentially life-threatening central diseases such as cerebrovascular pathologies. A systemic clinical approach needs a careful work-up, bedside examination and appropriate instrumental investigation. The head impulse test (HIT) allows qualitative clinical assessment of canalar function; it has some limitations such as subjective evaluation, mainly in patients with a spontaneous nystagmus. A new device has been recently developed consisting of an infrared video camera (video-HIT) to provide quantitative instrumental assessment of the high-frequency vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gain. By reporting a case of cerebellar haemorrhage mimicking an acute peripheral vestibulopathy, the authors suggest that video-HIT may be considered a useful tool in differential diagnosis between vestibular neuritis and cerebellar vascular disease in patients with severe acute vertigo without central signs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospitals of Mirano and Dolo (Venice), Italy;
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armato
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospitals of Mirano and Dolo (Venice), Italy;
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital of Dolo (Venice), Italy;
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinzani
authors.affiliation: ENT Consultant, Neuro-Otological Office, Cannes, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ulmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002531:Cerebellum; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D020338:Vestibular Neuronitis / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Central vertigo; Cerebellar haemorrhage; Head impulse test; Peripheral vertigo; Vestibular neuritis