Negative Video Head Impulse Test in Acute Vestibular Syndrome Does Not Exclude Vestibular Neuritis: Insights and Challenges in Diagnosis

TL;DR

A negative video head impulse test in acute vestibular syndrome does not rule out vestibular neuritis, highlighting the need for clinical judgment in diagnosis.

Contribution

Highlights the limitations of v-HIT in diagnosing vestibular neuritis and emphasizes the importance of clinical integration.

Findings

v-HIT can produce false negatives in acute vestibular neuritis.

Clinical judgment is essential when v-HIT results conflict with other diagnostic findings.

Combining patient history and physical findings improves diagnostic accuracy.

Abstract

Video Head Impulse Test (v‐HIT) is a valuable tool for diagnosing acute and chronic vestibular disorders but may yield false negatives in acute vestibular neuritis. Clinical judgment remains paramount; integrating patient history, physical findings, and ancillary tests ensures accurate diagnosis, especially when v‐HIT results conflict with the clinical picture and other diagnostic tools.

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