Usefulness of computed tomography of the brain in patients with dizziness in emergency room
- Author:
Taehoon JANG
1
;
You Ho MUN
;
Sujeong SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2026;37(2):89-94
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Objective:Brain computed tomography (CT) scans are often performed to determine the cause of dizziness in emergency departments (EDs). This study examined the usefulness of brain CT in diagnosing dizziness.
Methods:This retrospective study examined the medical records of patients aged 18 years or older who visited a single emergency medical center with dizziness from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The patients’ demographic information, symptoms, and brain CT results were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed.
Results:A total of 1,428 patients were enrolled. Among them, 45 patients had positive findings on brain CT. In the group of patients with a previous history of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), the proportion of positive brain CT results was higher than in those without a history of CVA (P<0.01). The group with one or more underlying diseases was statistically significant (P=0.02). In patients with nystagmus, the rate of positive brain CT findings was low, but the difference from patients without nystagmus was not statistically significant (0.9%, P=0.05). In patients who had one or more abnormal neurological exam findings, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of neurologic exam finding (odds ratio [OR], 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65-5.75; P<0.01), and the presence of nystagmus (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03-0.55; P<0.01) were associated with positive findings on brain CT.
Conclusion:Brain CT has limited diagnostic value in patients with dizziness presenting to the emergency room. This imaging modality should be performed in limited situations where central-type vertigo is suspected. Even in these cases, other diagnostic modalities such as MRI should be considered.
