Neurol. praxi. 2025;26(4):280-284 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2025.035

Acute dizziness and balance disorders: an imaging perspective

MUDr. Lukáš Martinkovič
Neuro-otologické centrum 1. LF UK, 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha
Neurologická klinika 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha

Vertigo and balance disorders are among the common patients complaints in emergency rooms. Up to 15 % of them are potentially life-threatening, especially based on cardio/cerebro-vascular events. The use of imaging methods is widely used, but their yield in the acute phase is still low. Noncontrast brain CT in patients with symptoms from posterior fossa shows acute ischemia in only a few percent of cases, more accurate MRI is in the first 48 hours falsely negative in up to 20 % of cases. Careful history taking and performing a basic vestibular examination (HINTS+, STANDING protocol) leads to a reliable distinction between central and peripheral etiology. Performing positional maneuvers is one of the basic examination procedures not only in patients with triggered episodic vertigo.

Keywords: acute dizzines, balance disorder, stroke, TIA, vestibular migraine, HINTS+, STANDING, Noncontrast brain CT, CT angiography, MRI.

Received: February 3, 2025; Revised: April 8, 2025; Accepted: April 8, 2025; Prepublished online: April 8, 2025; Published: September 29, 2025  Show citation

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Martinkovič L. Acute dizziness and balance disorders: an imaging perspective. Neurol. praxi. 2025;26(4):280-284. doi: 10.36290/neu.2025.035.
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