Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of electronystagmography and magnetic resonance imaging to the aetiological diagnosis of vertigo and unsteadiness, in a population in which the history and clinical examination provide no conclusive diagnosis of the origin of the dysfunction (i.e. peripheral or central).
Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 102 patients, who underwent full ENT clinical evaluation, history and neurotological assessment (including pure tone audiography, auditory brainstem response testing, electronystagmography and magnetic resonance imaging).
Results: Electronystagmography contributed to establishment of a diagnosis in 53/102 patients (52 per cent), whereas magnetic resonance imaging did the same in four of 102 patients (3.9 per cent).
Conclusion: Electronystagmography remains the most useful examination for aetiological diagnosis of patients with vertigo and unsteadiness, since the actual number of patients with vertigo and unsteadiness of central origin is small (3.9 per cent), even in a population in which history and clinical examination may indicate an increased probability of central nervous system dysfunction.