A neurootologist examined '33 successive cases of acute disabling vertigo f
rom the Clinic of Neurology of Turku University Central Hospital. On magnet
ic resonance imagine (MRI), 24 patients had evidence of acute cerebral or c
erebellar brain infarction. The examination scheme included a case history
analysis, clinical neurootological examination and electronystagmography (E
NG). The audiological examination included pure-tent thresholds and speech
audiometry. The ENG analyses were done by two neurootologists who had no in
formation about the aetiology of the diseases. A central disturbance in ENG
was observed in 59% (10/17) of the patients with cerebral brain infarction
and 71% (5/7) of the patients with cerebellar brain infarction. ENG is not
valid as a screening method for the central aetiology of vertigo; imaging
of the central nervous system is needed.