Acute Vertigo and Imbalance

Acute vertigo and imbalance are among the most common yet challenging neurological complaints faced in clinical practice and emergency settings. Patients with sudden onset vertigo, dizziness, and gait instability may harbor a wide range of underlying etiologies - from benign peripheral vestibulopathies to potentially life-threatening central causes, such as posterior circulation stroke. The accurate and timely differentiation between these causes is crucial to preventing both unnecessary investigations and missed diagnoses with serious consequences. Recent studies have highlighted the shortcomings of traditional diagnostic algorithms and have led to the development of new bedside examination techniques and imaging protocols. Despite these advances, significant diagnostic challenges remain, particularly in distinguishing central from peripheral causes. Furthermore, advances in vestibular testing, neuroimaging, and an improved understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms present new opportunities for research and clinical application. This Research Topic aims to address the diagnostic and therapeutic complexities surrounding acute vertigo and imbalance and foster progress through multidisciplinary insights.

The main goal of this Research Topic is to advance the understanding, diagnosis, and management of acute vertigo and imbalance, with special emphasis on improving patient outcomes. A significant challenge remains in swiftly identifying central causes, such as strokes, among the much more common benign vestibular disorders. By bringing together recent developments in clinical testing, advanced imaging, and vestibular science, this collection aims to promote the adoption of evidence-based strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, reduce misdiagnosis rates, and inform future research directions. We welcome contributions exploring both fundamental and clinical aspects of acute vertigo and imbalance, including novel diagnostic tools, decision-support algorithms, and translational studies. Collaborative, multi-specialty approaches will be emphasized to foster integrated care.

We welcome all article types accepted by the journal, including, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Novel clinical examination techniques (e.g., HINTS, video-oculography) for acute vestibular presentations
- Differentiating central versus peripheral causes: diagnostic algorithms and challenges
- Advances in neuroimaging and laboratory vestibular testing
- Emergency department and pre-hospital management strategies
- Under-recognized causes of acute vertigo and imbalance (e.g., autoimmune, infectious, vestibular migraine)
- Impact of comorbidities and risk factors on diagnosis and outcomes
- Implementation of telemedicine, digital health tools, and artificial intelligence in vestibular assessment
- Therapeutic interventions in acute vascular events with vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance
- Patient outcomes, rehabilitation, and quality-of-life studies following acute presentations

Potential Conflicts of Interest: Topic Editor Dr. J-S Kim holds the position of Chief Technology Officer at both SLMED and DZMED, and receives financial compensation from SLMED, a company that develops medical devices in the field of neuro-otology. He is also a shareholder in DZMED, a company that develops digital therapeutics for dizziness. Dr A. Zwergal has received research support from Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH and speakers' honoraria from Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Acute Vertigo, Imbalance, Acute Vestibular Syndrome, Vestibular Disorders, Neuro-Otology, Dizziness, Vestibular Testing

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.