Dizziness SBA ENT 15 Single Best Answer (SBA)
1. A 45-year-old patient experiences brief episodes of vertigo when moving their head. There is no hearing loss or tinnitus. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Explanation: BPPV causes brief episodes of vertigo triggered by specific head movements.
2. A 50-year-old male experiences dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss lasting several hours. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Ménière's disease
Explanation: Ménière's disease presents with episodic vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss.
3. A 30-year-old patient with a recent viral infection has persistent dizziness and hearing loss. Examination reveals nystagmus. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Labyrinthitis
Explanation: Labyrinthitis typically follows a viral infection, causing dizziness and hearing loss.
4. A 22-year-old presents with dizziness and ear pain after an upper respiratory infection. Examination reveals a bulging tympanic membrane. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Otitis media
Explanation: Otitis media is a middle ear infection often associated with ear pain and fever following an upper respiratory infection.
5. A 55-year-old patient reports unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and episodes of vertigo. MRI reveals a mass near the cerebellopontine angle. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Acoustic neuroma
Explanation: Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumour that causes hearing loss, tinnitus, and sometimes vertigo.
6. A patient feels dizzy and unsteady while travelling by car or boat. What is the most likely cause of this dizziness?
Answer: Motion sickness
Explanation: Motion sickness is a common condition causing nausea and dizziness, typically due to movement in vehicles.
7. A 40-year-old patient with a history of facial shingles presents with vertigo, hearing loss, and facial weakness. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Explanation: Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, leading to facial paralysis and vertigo.
8. A 35-year-old with a history of migraines presents with episodic dizziness and photophobia lasting several hours. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Migraine-associated vertigo
Explanation: Migraine-associated vertigo causes dizziness with typical migraine features such as photophobia.
9. A patient reports dizziness, weakness, and difficulty walking. MRI reveals demyelinating lesions in the brain and spinal cord. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Multiple sclerosis
Explanation: Multiple sclerosis may cause dizziness and balance issues due to demyelination in the central nervous system.
10. A pregnant patient in her first trimester experiences dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue. What is a likely cause of these symptoms?
Answer: Hormonal changes during pregnancy
Explanation: Hormonal shifts, especially in early pregnancy, can lead to dizziness and lightheadedness.
11. A patient has palpitations, sweating, and dizziness that improve after eating. Blood glucose levels are low during these episodes. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Hypoglycaemia
Explanation: Hypoglycaemia presents with dizziness, sweating, and palpitations, often relieved by food.
12. A 45-year-old with frequent dizziness, pale skin, and fatigue has low iron levels. What is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
Answer: Iron deficiency anaemia
Explanation: Iron deficiency anaemia can lead to dizziness, fatigue, and pallor due to reduced haemoglobin levels.
13. A 30-year-old with thyroid disease reports dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. What could be contributing to their symptoms?
Answer: Hormonal imbalance
Explanation: Thyroid hormone imbalances can cause dizziness and fatigue.
14. A 40-year-old patient experiences dizziness, rapid breathing, and tingling in their hands when stressed. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Hyperventilation
Explanation: Hyperventilation, often associated with stress, can cause dizziness and paraesthesia due to rapid breathing.
15. A 25-year-old patient with generalised anxiety frequently feels lightheaded and dizzy, especially in stressful situations. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Anxiety disorder
Explanation: Anxiety can cause lightheadedness and dizziness, especially in stressful settings.
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