Feasibility, Diagnostic Value of Abbreviated MRI Protocol in Acute Evaluation of Dizziness in ED

Background: Dizziness is a common presenting complaint in the emergency department (ED), but is a nonspecific symptom that poses diagnostic challenges as it could be due to vestibular dysfunction or a central nervous system etiology. Previous research has indicated that up to 40% of strokes may be missed in the ED in patients presenting with vertigo. CT angiography (CTA), given its availability, is often used as the initial imaging modality in the ED to evaluate for vascular causes of posterior circulation ischemia due to its rapid availability; however, it can have low diagnostic yield for detecting acute stroke, especially in subtle cases or those with early ischemic changes. MRI is the preferred imaging modality for patients with acute dizziness when a central etiology is possible, but it takes longer to acquire, and abbreviated protocols may improve access in urgent settings. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and utility of an abbreviated MRI protocol for patients with more...