Pulsatile Tinnitus Caused by a Dilated Mastoid Emissary Vein.
10.3346/jkms.2013.28.4.628
- Author:
Seung Hwan LEE
1
;
Sam Soo KIM
;
Kun Yong SUNG
;
Eui Cheol NAM
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Reports ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Pulsatile Tinnitus;
Mastoid Vein
- MeSH:
Adult;
Dilatation, Pathologic/complications;
Female;
Humans;
Jugular Veins/radiography/ultrasonography;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Mastoid/blood supply/ultrasonography;
Tinnitus/*diagnosis/etiology;
Tomography, X-Ray
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2013;28(4):628-630
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Although pulsatile tinnitus can be audible, objective demonstration of this heartbeat-synchronous sound has rarely been successful. We report a rare case of pulsatile tinnitus in a 44-yr-old female patient, which was induced by a large mastoid emissary vein (MEV) and objectively documented by Doppler sonography of the left posterior auricular region. The tinnitus was intermittent and the patient could adapt to the tinnitus without intervention on the mastoid emissary vein. These findings suggest that a single large MEV can cause pulsatile tinnitus in the absence of other vascular abnormalities, and imaging studies of the posterior fossa and Doppler ultrasonography can aid the diagnosis in such cases.
