Pulsatile tinnitus and dural arteriovenous malformation

An unusual case of a patient presenting with left sided pulsatile tinnitus is presented. This was later shown to be due to a dural arteriovenous malformation involving the lateral venous sinus. The diagnosis was suspected by the presence of a bruit over the mastoid process and confirmed by a CT scan and angiography. Management involved pre-operative embolisation and neurosurgical excision. The differential diagnosis of pulsatile tinnitus and the management of a dural arterio venous malformation is discussed.     

Role of angiography in the evaluation of patients with pulsatile tinnitus

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Pulsatile tinnitus in the face of normal findings on otoscopy is a common otological diagnostic dilemma and can be due to serious vascular malformations such as transverse or sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (transverse or sigmoid sinus [TS] DAVF). Left untreated, TS DAVF may result in significant morbidity and mortality. TS DAVF can be suspected or diagnosed with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), with the gold standard being angiography. Our objective was to assess the utility of these various diagnostic modalities in the diagnosis of dural arteriovenous fistula. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical review. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1996, 54 patients were evaluated and treated for TS DAVF. Between 1996 and 1999, an additional 33 patients underwent MRI combined with MRA for the evaluation of pulsatile tinnitus. A retrospective review of the medical records for both groups, with special attention to clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and outcome, was performed. RESULTS: All patients had pulsatile tinnitus with normal findings on otoscopy. CT scan was relatively insensitive in the detection of TS DAVF. MRI and MR/MRA were significantly more sensitive than CT. In the evaluation of patients with subjective pulsatile tinnitus, MRI/MRA defined anatomical abnormalities that may contribute to pulsatile tinnitus in 63% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of objective pulsatile tinnitus, MRI/MRA is an appropriate initial diagnostic step. When a patient has an objective bruit, the clinician may choose to proceed directly to angiography to make certain that a TS DAVF is not missed.     

Pulse synchronous vascular tinnitus: radiologic diagnosis and therapy

Tinnitus synchronous with the pulse is usually caused by vascular anomalies. In our own patient group we found the most frequent cause to be highly vascularised tumours related to the pretrous bone, the most common being glomus tumours. Pulsatile tinnitus however also is a main symptom of dural arterio-venous malformations with shunts into the transverse and sigmoid sinus. Finally pulsatile tinnitus may be caused by venous deformities, possibly combined with anomalies of the bulb of the jugular vein. While clinical methods give valuable clues to the type of pathological findings, subtle radiological investigations are necessary for the final diagnosis, such as high resolution computer tomography and super-selective angiography. There has been substantial progress in recent years due to technical developments leading to improved diagnosis and treatment by interventional radiology.     

Abnormalities of the bulbus venae jugularis: a cause for pulse synchronous tinnitus?

Tinnitus synchronous with the pulse is usually caused by vascular processes. The best-known sources are vascular temporal bone tumours and arteriovenous malformations. Vascular tinnitus due to anomalies of the venous system is an entity of its own and may be associated with anomalies of the jugular foramen. The present investigation shows that a high jugular bulb facilitates the occurrence of pulsatile tinnitus, albeit not necessarily leading to a bruit. Imaging methods are necessary not only in the assessment of the jugular bulb but also in the diagnosis of intracranial hypertension, which can present by a typical venous tinnitus.     

Tinnitus caused by bilateral shunts from the occipital arteries to the intracranial veins. A case report.

A patient with objective tinnitus and a pulse synchronous murmur over both left and right sides of the mastoid regions is described. Microphones placed over the mastoid regions recording "phonomastoidograms" clearly demonstrated the pulse synchronous tinnitus. Arteriovenous shunts from the occipital arteries to the sigmoid sinus were later demonstrated with angiograms. After bilateral surgical removal of the arteriovenous shunts the incapacitating tinnitus disappeared. The importance of thorough examination of pulse synchronous tinnitus is discussed.     

Traumatic carotid-cavernous sinus fistula

Seventy-five percent of carotid-cavernous sinus fistulae result from high velocity head trauma. The most common symptom is a pulse synchronous bruit which usually becomes apparent when the patient regains his sensorium. The objective manifestations of such an arteriovenous fistula are characteristically localized to the ipsilateral orbit. A periorbital bruit and venous engorgement of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctivae are pathognomonic features. Bilateral carotid angiography confirms the diagnosis and determines which of several techniques might be used to obliterate the fistula. Occasionally the classic signs and symptoms may be delayed for days or weeks. Thus, the maxillofacial surgeon must be aware of this clinical entity to avoid untimely repair of facial fractures with potentially disastrous consequences.     

Tinnitus caused by bilateral shunts from the occipital arteries to the intracranial veins

Summary A patient with objective tinnitus and a pulse synchronous murmur over both left and right sides of the mastoid regions is described. Microphones placed over the mastoid regions recording phonomastoidograms clearly demonstrated the pulse synchronous tinnitus. Arteriovenous shunts from the occipital arteries to the sigmoid sinus were later demonstrated with angiograms. After bilateral surgical removal of the arteriovenous shunts the incapacitating tinnitus disappeared. The importance of thorough examination of pulse synchronous tinnitus is discussed.     

Sigmoid sinus diverticulum: a new surgical approach to the correction of pulsatile tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus represents a bothersome symptom not infrequently encountered in an otology practice. Tinnitus can be the harbinger of identifiable middle or inner ear abnormality; but more frequently, tinnitus stands alone as a subjective symptom with no easy treatment. When a patient complains of tinnitus that is pulsatile in nature, a thorough workup is indicated to rule out vascular abnormality. We report of a new diagnostic finding and method of surgical correction for select patients with pulsatile tinnitus. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary care, academic referral center. PATIENTS: Among patients seen for complaints of unilateral or bilateral pulsatile tinnitus, five were identified with diverticula of the sigmoid sinus. All patients had normal in-office otoscopic, tympanometric, and audiometric evaluations. Patients with paragangliomas or benign intracranial hypertension were excluded. Auscultation of the pinna or mastoid revealed an audible bruit in most patients. All patients underwent computed tomographic angiography of the temporal bone. In all cases, this finding was on the side coincident with the tinnitus. INTERVENTION: Three of five patients underwent transmastoid reconstruction of the sigmoid sinus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Patients were evaluated clinically for presence or absence of pulsatile tinnitus after reconstructive surgery. RESULTS: All patients electing surgical reconstruction had immediate and lasting resolution of the tinnitus. CONCLUSION: Surgical reconstruction can provide lasting symptom relief for patients with pulsatile tinnitus and computed tomographic evidence of a sigmoid sinus diverticulum.     

Transverse/Sigmoid Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Presenting As Pulsatile Tinnitus

Objective/Hypothesis: Transverse/sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (TSDAVF) is a diagnostically elusive entity that is critical for the otologist to account for, when confronted by pulsatile tinnitus in the face of normal otoscopy. Left untreated, TSDAVF may result in catastrophic outcome. We have previously proposed a grading system specifically for TSDAVF based on venous restrictive disease. Our objective was to assess the validity of this grading system for clinical severity and therapeutic outcome. Methods: Through a retrospective review of 41 patients with TSDAVF, we evaluated clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and outcome. Patients were classified into four grades based on the severity of venous restrictive disease as determined by superselective angiography. Our treatment algorithm combined compression therapy, transarterial embolization, and for more severe grades, surgery. Results: Pulsatile tinnitus was the chief complaint of all the patients in this series, and of 90% of all cases of TSDAVF treated at our institution. While angiography remains the gold standard, magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance arteriography is far superior to computed tomography scanning in detecting dural arteriouvenous fistulas. As normal venous outflow gives way to aberrant cortical venous drainage in higher grades, there is a dramatically increased risk for adverse consequences with therapeutic intervention. Using our treatment algorithm, 82% of patients achieved clinical resolution of symptoms. Half of these patients had complete angiographic obliteration of their TSDAVF. Conclusions: The TSDAVF-specific grading system for the severity of venous restrictive disease is reflective of clinical presentation, fundamental in planning treatment, and predictive of therapeutic outcome.     

Spontaneous resolution, after superselective angiography, of pulsatile tinnitus resulting from dural arteriovenous fistula

We present an unusual case of subjective right-sided pulsatile tinnitus that resolved spontaneously within a few weeks after diagnostic superselective angiography. The possibility of dural arteriovenous fistula should be kept in mind even in subjective tinnitus. Conventional angiography may be the only modality that shows the abnormality.     

Pulsatile tinnitus and therapeutic embolization.

Fifteen patients with disabling pulse-synchronous tinnitus were investigated with super-selective angiography demonstrating an arteriovenous malformation in 8 cases, chemodectoma of the jugular bulb in 3, and a local arterial stenosis in one case. In 12 of these cases the murmur could be registered objectively, while in the 3 cases with a negative angiographic finding no such murmur could be heard, an observation which may be of importance when selecting patients for further angiographic examination. The cases with a tumour and those with an arteriovenous malformation were all treated with gelatin sponge embolizatioected cases embolization is recommended alone or in combination with surgery.     

Degree of Sigmoid Sinus Compression and the Symptom Relief Using Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Venous Pulsating Tinnitus

Objectives

To show that mechanical compression of sigmoid sinus is effective for treatment of pulsatile tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus enlargement, and to evaluate the relationship between the compression degree of sigmoid sinus and the tinnitus symptom relief using magnetic resonance angiography.

Methods

Medical records of twenty-four patients who were diagnosed with venous tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus enlargement and underwent mechanical compression of sigmoid sinus were reviewed between April 2009 and May 2013. All these patients received computed tomography and magnetic resonance venography study before undergoing surgery and were followed for at least 4 months.

Results

Twenty-three patients felt relief from tinnitus three months after the surgery, and the cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus on the tinnitus side was compressed approximately by half (46%-69%) after the surgery. There were 4 patients whose tinnitus suddenly disappeared while lying on the operating table before operation, which may be a result of the patient''s emotional tension or postural changes from standing. One of the four patients felt no relief from tinnitus after the surgery, with the cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus only compressed by 30%. And two patients of them had a recurrence of tinnitus about 6 months after the surgery. Seven patients had sigmoid sinus diverticula, and tinnitus would not disappear merely by eliminating the diverticulum until by compressing the sigmoid sinus to certain degree. There were 3 minor complications, including aural fullness, head fullness and hyperacusis. The preoperative low frequency conductive and sensorineural hearing loss of 7 subjects subsided.

Conclusion

Mechanical compression of sigmoid sinus is an effective treatment for pulsatile tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus enlargement, even if it might be accompanied by sigmoid sinus diverticulum. A compression degree of sigmoid sinus about 54% is adequate for the relief of tinnitus symptom. Cases in which patients'' tinnitus suddenly disappeared before the surgery might be excluded to improve the efficacy of surgery.     

乙状窦憩室引起搏动性耳鸣的CT血管造影诊断

目的 评价CT血管造影在诊断乙状窦憩室异常引起搏动性耳鸣的应用价值.方法 搜集12例乙状窦壁异常所致搏动性耳鸣患者,回顾性分析CT血管造影表现.结果 12例乙状窦壁异常引起搏动性耳鸣患者中右侧9例,左侧3例.CT血管造影表现为乙状窦前外壁或外壁骨质缺损,边缘光整的软组织团块突人乳突蜂房内,其中2例突出至皮下,突出的软组...     

Interventionai Diagnosis and Treatment of Vasculogeneic Pulsatile Tinnitus

Objective To retrospectively study clinical features and diagnostic imaging of vasculogeneic pulsatile tin-nitus, and the feasibility and efficacy of transvascular interventional treatment for this condition. Methods Data from 82 cases of arterial or venous pulsatile tinnitus were reviewed. DSA characteristics and possible pathophysiological mechanisms of pulsatile tinnitus in these cases were studied. Diagnoses in this group in-cluded intracranial arterovenous fistula (AVF) (n=3), spontaneous skull base dural AVF (n=16), traumatic ca-rotid-cavernous sinus fistula (n=5), subclavian artery stenosis (n=2), internal carotid artery stenosis (n=3), in-tracranial arterial stenosis (n=1), kinked and/or elongated vertebrobasilar artery (n=2), venous sinus divertic-ulum (n=2), venous sinus stenosis on the dominant drainage side (n=46) and occipital sinus stenosis (n=2). Treatments included embolization and stenting using coils, NBCA glue, Balt balloons, self-expansion stents and intracranial micro-stents via either the femoral artery or femoral vein. Results Procedures were suc-cessful in all cases with no surgery-related complications. Tinnitus disappeared within 2 days after the pro-cedure in all cases. Follow up duration was 5-36 months. Recurrence occurred in 4 cases of arterial tinnitus within 3 months following the initial procedure, which improved after revision embolization or symptom management. There was no recurrence in venous tinnitus cases following stent plastic or stent-coiling embo-lization treatments. Conclusions Endovascular intervention provides a new approach to the diagnosis and treatment of intractable pulsatile tinnitus. It is also effective in differentiating and studying other types of tinnitus.     

Objective tinnitus: a case report

Objective tinnitus is a rather rare condition that may be due to myoclonus of certain muscles, such as the palate, or to arteriovenous communications, either congenital or acquired. In cases of palatal myoclonus the diagnosis of the causative factor is not always easy, but the use of tympanometry, EMG, and EEG may help in establishing the diagnosis. In cases of arteriovenous communications a pulse synchronous tinnitus is present. It may be temporarily obliterated by applying pressure over the mastoid area or over the carotid artery on the affected side. Audiometric and tympanometric studies are not diagnostic, and very careful angiographic studies are necessary because routine tests may not show the lesion. The case presented suggests another etiologic possibility for vascular objective tinnitus: a stenosis of certain branches of the external carotid artery. The treatment for myoclonic causes of objective tinnitus has been for the most part unsatisfactory, whether it be medical or surgical. On the other hand, surgical treatment of arteriovenous communications results in complete amelioration of signs and symptoms--hence the necessity for an accurate diagnosis.     

Persistent petrosquamosal sinus: Underlying cause of otitic hydrocephalus with lateral sinus thrombosis

Lateral sinus thrombosis (LST) occurs when a middle ear infection disseminates directly via bone erosion or disseminates indirectly through the venous networks. The petrosquamosal sinus (PSS) is the residual accessory dural sinus connecting intracranial to extracranial drainage. This report describes a case of a patient with persistent PSS running through the mastoid in context of otitic hydrocephalus with LST. To identify PSS, enhanced CT and reconstructed image from CT venography were more useful than MRI. The possibility of persistent PSS running through the mastoid should be considered if LST without marked inflammation and bone erosion is noted.     

Pulsatile tinnitus alleviated by contralateral neck compression: a case report

A case of a 58-year-old man with right pulsatile tinnitus originating from a small dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) of the jugular bulb is described. The tinnitus was alleviated by contralateral neck compression. This unusual observation ruled out venous pulsatile tinnitus, although a temporal bone CT scan showed a high jugular bulb. The fistula was confirmed by angiographic study. The patient was treated by transarterial embolization of the fistula and remains free of symptoms 1 year after treatment.     

Spontane durale arteriovenöse Fistel am Sinus cavernosus

Spontaneous dural arterio-venous fistulas can imperceptibly develop over a long time period before they suddenly develop symptoms like bruit, loss of vision, exophthalmos and conjunctival injection. We present the rare case of an occult, para-infectious, dural arterio-venous fistula which became symptomatic after endoscopic sinus surgery. Conjunctival injection and slight exophthalmos developed due to decompensation of venous drainage probably by intraoperative positioning of the patient, positive pressure ventilation and nasal packing.     

Role of cerebral digital subtraction angiography in the evaluation of pulse synchronous tinnitus

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the value of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the diagnostic evaluation of a highly selected patient population presenting with pulse-synchronous tinnitus (PST).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients referred for evaluation of possible vascular etiology of pulsatile tinnitus. Patients were evaluated with regards to presenting signs, comorbidities, non-invasive imaging results, angiographic findings and outcomes.ResultsFifteen patients underwent cerebral DSA. Dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) was identified in six patients, and five patients had other significant vascular pathology identified on DSA. Seven patients with ‘negative’ non-invasive imaging were found to have significant pathology on DSA.ConclusionsCatheter angiography may have a significant yield in appropriately selected patients presenting with pulse synchronous tinnitus.     

Venous hum as a cause of reversible factitious sensorineural hearing loss

Self-heard venous hums have been previously documented and recognized as one cause of audible pulsatile tinnitus. A patient presented with a right internal jugular venous hum causing audible tinnitus and a right sensorineural hearing loss, both of which resolved after high ligation of the right internal jugular vein. We speculate that the hearing loss measured initially was factitious and represented a masking effect due to the venous hum.