Acute vertigo: stroke or not?

Acute vertigo accounts for about 4% of emergency department visits in both the United States and Europe. Despite this frequency, the management of dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders remains fragmented, with no established international care pathway. The acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) is particularly challenging, and timely recognition is essential to avoid potentially devastating outcomes. This review is timely, because misdiagnosis rates remain unacceptably high, especially for posterior circulation strokes presenting with dizziness.

The literature highlights a wide differential diagnosis for AVS, ranging from benign peripheral vestibular disorders to life-threatening central causes. Distinguishing stroke from peripheral disorder remains a key clinical dilemma, compounded by the limitations of early neuroimaging - MRI can yield false negatives within 48 h. Up to 35% of posterior circulation strokes with dizziness are initially missed, often by nonspecialists unfamiliar with targeted bedside tests.

A structured bedside approach, focusing on key clinical features and targeted examination, can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce delays in appropriate treatment. Incorporating such strategies into standard practice could address a major gap in acute neurology care and improve patient outcomes.