Not at all.

Distinguishing between peripheral and central causes of vertigo is challenging, and computed tomography (CT) is often used in the hope of providing key discriminatory information. Researchers reviewed the charts of 448 patients who underwent CT for dizziness at an academic emergency department to determine if a cause was identified and if follow-up imaging (performed in 104 patients) led to a change in diagnosis.

Acute or subacute findings (bleed, neoplasm with or without midline shift or herniation, new or worsening hydrocephalus) were identified on 2.2% of initial CT scans; there were no findings of posterior fossa stroke. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led to a change in diagnosis in 16% of patients, most often by identifying ischemic strokes not seen on the initial CT scan. CT had a negative predictive value of 88% and a sensitivity of 40% for detecting the cause of vertigo.

CITATION(S):

Lawhn-Heath C et al. Utility of head CT in the evaluation of vertigo/dizziness in the emergency department. Emerg Radiol 2012 Sept 2; [e-pub ahead of print].