%0 Journal Article
%T The Clinical Differentiation of Cerebellar Infarction from Common Vertigo Syndromes
%A Nelson
%A James A
%A Viirre
%A Erik
%J Western Journal of Emergency Medicine : Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health
%D 2009
%I UC Irvine Health School of Medicine.
%X This article summarizes the emergency department approach to diagnosing cerebellar infarction in the patient presenting with vertigo. Vertigo is defined and identification of a vertigo syndrome is discussed. The differentiation of common vertigo syndromes such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere¡¯s disease, migrainous vertigo, and vestibular neuritis is summarized. Confirmation of a peripheral vertigo syndrome substantially lowers the likelihood of cerebellar infarction, as do indicators of a peripheral disorder such as an abnormal head impulse test. Approximately 10% of patients with cerebellar infarction present with vertigo and no localizing neurologic deficits. The majority of these may have other signs of central vertigo, specifically direction-changing nystagmus and severe ataxia.[West J Emerg Med. 2009;10(4):273-277.]
%K vertigo
%K cerebellar infarction
%K physical examination
%K direction-changing nystagmus
%K gait
%U http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6gt0d3x7