OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis and management of venous original pulsatile tinnitus associated with sigmoid sinus.

METHODSA retrospective study was conducted on 12 patients who were diagnosed with venous original pulsatile tinnitus associated with sigmoid sinus, and treated with sigmoid sinus constriction surgery. The diagnostic evidences for venous original pulsatile tinnitus associated with sigmoid sinus were re-evaluated, the pulsatile tinnitus improvements and MRV study results before and after surgeries associated with sigmoid sinus were compared.

RESULTSEleven patients got relief of tinnitus within three months after the surgeries, while one patient had no relief. There were ten patients underwent MRV study, the cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus in the healthy side was about two times in the tinnitus side. Constriction sigmoid sinus was performed on the twelve patients. The cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus of relieved tinnitus patients were compressed by forty-six percent to eighty-three percent. None of the cases complained of any serious complications.

CONCLUSIONSSigmoid sinus constriction is an available therapy for pulsatile tinnitus at present. More cases and longer follow-up are necessary to evaluate its treatment effect accurately.