BMJ  2007;334:600 (24 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39156.530949.FA

Letters

Cervical spondylosis

Dizziness is not diagnostic

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

I was dismayed that "dizziness or vertigo" was listed as a presenting feature of cervical spondylosis.1 Dizziness is extremely common, especially in elderly people (many of whom have more than one type of dizziness), and it causes considerable morbidity. In nearly all elderly patients, radiography will show a degree of cervical spondylosis. Because most doctors are not trained in dizziness many such patients do not get a proper diagnosis, and the myth of dizziness or vertigo (especially on looking up) due to cervical spondylosis is perpetuated. Many have benign positional vertigo or other treatable diagnoses.

"Dizziness or vertigo due to cervical spondylosis" is generally considered to be a "non-diagnosis" by those who specialise in diagnosing and managing dizziness.

Nicola A Cooper, consultant physician

Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX

nacooper@doctors.org.uk

Competing interests: None declared.

  1. Binder AI. Cervical spondylosis and neck pain. BMJ 2007;334:527-31. (10 March.)[Free Full Text]

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