localising the lesion in a dizzy patient

Last reviewed 01/2018

Lesions in the following locations may result dizziness which is accompanied by characteristic clinical features:

  • inner ear:
    • deafness
    • tinnitus
    • pain or fullness in the ear
    • discharge from the ear

  • VIIIth nerve:
    • associated facial weakness

  • cerebellopontine angle:
    • facial numbness
    • cerebellar incoordination
    • tinnitus
    • dysarthria

  • brain stem:
    • other cranial nerve palsies
    • hemiparesis
    • hemisensory loss
    • impaired consciousness

  • cerebellum:
    • incoordination
    • dysarthria

  • cerebral cortex:
    • seizures
    • hallucinations in other modalities including olfaction and gustation