Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of 1.5 tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain studies in evaluating the cause of giddiness.
Materials and methods: In this retrospective analytical study; MRI brain scans of 500 patients who presented with giddiness; were analysed to assess if the cause of giddiness could be found in them.
Results: Five-hundred MRI serial scans were reviewed. Gender wise total 288 females and 212 males with age ranging between 36 to 74 years were found. Two hundred and seventy two scans (54.4%) were reported as completely normal. Significant findings were seen in 52 cases (10.4%); when mastoiditis was not taken into account. When mastoiditis was included as a possible cause of giddiness, the significant findings were seen in 284 cases (56.8%) of cases. The most frequent incidental finding were cerebral atrophy in 177 cases (35.4 %), old infarcts in 144 scans (28.8%) and ischemic foci in 136 scans (27.2%). Seventy seven scans (13.5%), had clinically serious incidental findings that needed further management.
Conclusion: High sensitivity and specificity of the MRI mentioned in other studies justifies its use in investigating patients with giddiness that do not respond to routine medications. MRI scans in such patients can successfully demonstrate the significant findings - which can directly cause giddiness. But incidence of such findings is very less. Most often, incidental findings are demonstrated which may or may not be clinical significance. MRI being a costly investigation, should therefore be used judiciously in such patients.