Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T01:50:45.811Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Focal defect of mastoid bone shell in the region of the transverse-sigmoid junction: a new cause of pulsatile tinnitus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2012

J Xue ,
T Li ,
X Sun  and
Y Liu
J Xue
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
T Li
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
X Sun
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Imaging, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
Y Liu*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Yuhe Liu, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, No 8 Xishiku Street, Western District, Beijing 100034, China Fax: +86 10 66551057 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Pulsatile tinnitus usually originates from vascular structures, causing an arterial or venous bruit. We report a new cause of pulsatile tinnitus: a focal defect of the mastoid bone shell in the region of the transverse-sigmoid junction, with a normal transverse-sigmoid sinus.

Participants and intervention:

Three patients complained of unilateral, pulsatile tinnitus present for many years. They were identified as having a focal defect of the mastoid bone shell in the region of the transverse-sigmoid junction. The patients underwent transmastoid reconstruction of the mastoid bone shell overlying the transverse-sigmoid sinus.

Results:

All three patients reported immediate resolution of their symptoms, and were asymptomatic at final follow up.

Conclusion:

A focal defect of the mastoid bone shell overlying the transverse-sigmoid sinus, with no abnormality of the sinus itself, may be a new cause of pulsatile tinnitus. Surgical reconstruction of the mastoid bone shell overlying the transverse-sigmoid sinus can provide lasting symptom relief for patients with pulsatile tinnitus and computed tomographic evidence of the defect.

Keywords

Tinnitus, PulsatileMastoidTemporal BoneSigmoid Sinus
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 4 , April 2012 , pp. 409 - 413
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Herraiz, C, Aparicio, JM. Diagnostic clues in pulsatile tinnitus (somatosounds) [in Spanish]. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 2007;58:426–33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Chan, Y. Tinnitus: etiology, classification, characteristics, and treatment. Discov Med 2009;8:133–6Google ScholarPubMed
3Xenellis, J, Nikolopoulos, TP, Felekis, D, Tzangaroulakis, A. Pulsatile tinnitus: a review of the literature and an unusual case of iatrogenic pneumocephalus causing pulsatile tinnitus. Otol Neurotol 2005;26:1149–51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Otto, KJ, Hudgins, PA, Abdelkafy, W, Mattox, DE. Sigmoid sinus diverticulum: a new surgical approach to the correction of pulsatile tinnitus. Otol Neurotol 2006;28:48–53CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Sismanis, A. Pulsatile tinnitus. A 15-year experience. Am J Otol 1998;19:472–7Google Scholar
6Krishnan, A, Mattox, DE, Fountain, AJ, Hudgins, PA. CT arteriography and venography in pulsatile tinnitus: preliminary results. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2006;27:1635–8Google ScholarPubMed
7Mehall, CJ, Wilner, HI, LaRouere, MJ. Pulsatile tinnitus associated with a laterally placed sigmoid sinus. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1995;16:905–7Google ScholarPubMed
8Houdart, E, Chapot, R, Merland, JJ. Aneurysm of a dural sigmoid sinus: a novel vascular cause of pulsatile tinnitus. Ann Neurol 2000;48:669–713.0.CO;2-6>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Sanchez, TG, Murao, M, de Medeiros, IR, Kii, M, Bento, RF, Caldas, JG et al. A new therapeutic procedure for treatment of objective venous pulsatile tinnitus. Int Tinnitus J 2002;8:54–7Google ScholarPubMed
10Cowley, PO, Jones, R, Tuch, P, McAuliffe, W. Pulsatile tinnitus from reversal of flow in an aberrant occipital artery: resolved after carotid artery stenting. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009;30:995–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Gologorsky, Y, Meyer, SA, Post, AF, Winn, HR, Patel, AB, Bederson, JB. Novel surgical treatment of a transverse-sigmoid sinus aneurysm presenting as pulsatile tinnitus: technical case report. Neurosurgery 2009;64:E393–4, discussion E394CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Duvillard, C, Ballester, M, Redon, E, Romanet, P. Pulsatile tinnitus cured by mastoidectomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2004;113:730–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed