Vertigo: a review of common peripheral and central vestibular disorders.

INTRODUCTION Dizziness, a common symptom that affects more than 90 million Americans, has been reported to be the most common complaint in patients 75 years of age or older. Dizziness, however, is a common term used to describe multiple sensations (vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium), each having numerous etiologies. It is often difficult for a physician to elucidate the quality of dizziness a patient is experiencing and decide how to proceed with medical management. The focus of this article is the peripheral and central vestibular system. We review the more common disorders specific to this system, describe how patients with these disorders present, and discuss management protocols.