Magnetic resonance brain imaging in people with dizziness: a comparison with non-dizzy people (2024)

FAQs

Magnetic resonance brain imaging in people with dizziness: a comparison with non-dizzy people? ›

The only difference in MRI between dizzy and non-dizzy subjects was that midbrain white matter lesions were more common in the dizzy subjects.

MRI is preferred over CT due to its superiority in visualizing the posterior fossa, which is often the location for a central etiology of vertigo. MRI will rule out acute and chronic ischemic disease, cerebellopontine lesions such as vestibular schwannomas and meningiomas, as well as multiple sclerosis.

In more serious cases, dizziness may indicate a brain bleed or stroke. Red flags for a serious neurological issue include: Double vision. Slurred speech or trouble finding words.

Dizziness is one of the most common health problems for adults. Dizziness can be a range of sensations including feeling light-headed, faint, woozy, giddy, unsteady, off-balance or weak. Vertigo is a type of dizziness that feels as though you or your surroundings are spinning.

Side Effects of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Dyes

Most of the side effects of gadolinium-based contrasts (GBCDs) are mild, including: Headache. Nausea. Dizziness.

If you have vertigo due to problems in the brain (central vertigo), you may have other symptoms, including: Difficulty swallowing. Double vision. Eye movement problems.

If your doctor suspects you are having or may have had a stroke, are older or suffered a blow to the head, he or she may immediately order an MRI or CT scan. Most people visiting their doctor because of dizziness will first be asked about their symptoms and medications and then be given a physical examination.

Posterior circulation stroke affects around 20% of all ischemic strokes and can potentially be identified by evaluating or assessing the “Five D's”: Dizziness, drowsiness, dysarthria, diplopia, and dysphagia.

Dizziness has many possible causes, including: low blood pressure. migraine. stress or anxiety.

Common causes include inner ear problems, medicines, infections, and traumatic brain injury. These disorders can occur at any age. But they are most common as you get older. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and can include medicine, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes.

What can be mistaken for dizziness? ›

Dizziness and vertigo are two similar feelings with an important difference. Because of this, it's important to avoid using them interchangeably. Dizziness is a general feeling of being off-balance. Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are moving or spinning.

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo. Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: Sudden, severe headache. Chest pain.

Obviously, if a specific diagnosis such as an acoustic neuroma is suspected, then MRI should be performed. The observation of more frequent white matter lesions in the midbrain in dizzy subjects requires further study to determine whether small vessel changes could cause dizziness in older people.

MRI Scans. In some people with vertigo—in particular those who also have hearing loss—doctors may recommend an MRI scan to obtain a closer look at the inner ear and surrounding structures.

When patients present to the ED with dizziness, oftentimes the provider will order a computed tomography (CT) scan to rule out serious medical problems, such as intracranial bleeding or stroke.

Your neurologist or movement disorder specialist will perform a history and physical examination of your eye movements, cranial nerves, speech, coordination, gait, and sensation. They may order imaging including MRIs or CT scans to determine a neurological cause of your balance symptoms.

MRI and CT scans can determine if underlying medical conditions might be causing your balance problems.

The MRI's strong magnetic field exerts a force on the fluid that circulates in the inner ear's balance center, resulting in a sensation of unexpected and unsteady movement [15] that increases the risk of falling, which is a known result of vertigo or dizziness.

More specifically, a brain or head MRI can show if there are any abnormalities in your brain or the surrounding tissues, including, but not limited to: Inflammation and swelling. Structural issues. Abnormal growths or masses.