Tinnitus refers to the perception of abnormal sound in the absence of external sound stimulation. It can have an impact on a person's mood, memory, attention, and mental state, although the mechanism of tinnitus is still unclear. In recent years, the research on the central neural mechanism of tinnitus has attracted the attention of scholars.Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI）,as an effective imaging technology, has been actively employed in this field. This paper provides a systematic summary of studies on the central neural mechanism of tinnitus by fMRI in recent years,revealed the changes of functional connections among tinnitus-related neural networks,such as auditory network,limbic system,default mode network and salience network. The central neural mechanism of tinnitus involves multiple networks that interact with each other. By understanding this mechanism, we hope to develop more targeted prevention and treatment strategies to help patients alleviate long-term tinnitus.
Humans ; Tinnitus/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Attention

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of the audio-visual block (AB) on the brain glucose metabolism of idiopathic tinnitus patients.

METHODSThe brain positron emission tomography (PET) test was performed on one chronic idiopathic tinnitus patient under audio-visual block and non-block (NB) conditions respectively. The visual analysis and statistical parameter mapping (SPM) analysis were both used to detect the brain glucose metabolism difference under AB and NB conditions.

RESULTSUnder NB conditions, significant hyperactivity was detected at auditory and visual cortex on both sides of the brain. However, this phenomenon was not shown under AB conditions. Instead, a hyperactivity of brain was presented in the left Wernicke's area.

CONCLUSIONSThe generation of chronic idiopathic tinnitus probably has no relationship with the auditory cortex abnormity. Wernicke's area might be involved in the central perception of tinnitus.

Adult ; Auditory Cortex ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tinnitus ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDA comprehensive assessment of various vascular anomalies and variants associated with venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT) by radiography is essential for therapeutic planning and improving the clinical outcome. This study evaluated the incidence of various vascular anomalies and variants on the PT side and determined whether these lesions occurred as multiple or single entities.

METHODSThe dual-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography images of 242 patients with unilateral venous PT were retrospectively reviewed. The vascular anomalies and variants on the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides were analyzed, and the incidences of anomalies or variants on each side were compared. The number of anomalies and variants on the symptomatic side in each patient was calculated.

RESULTS(1) A total 170 patients (170/242) had more than one anomaly or variant on the symptomatic side, and 58 patients (58/242) had a single lesion on tomography. (2) There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of dehiscent sigmoid plate (P = 0.000), lateral sinus stenosis (P = 0.014), high jugular bulb (P = 0.000), sigmoid sinus diverticulum (P = 0.000), jugular bulb diverticulum (P = 0.000), dehiscent jugular bulb (P = 0.000), and a large emissary vein (P = 0.006) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides. (3) Dehiscent sigmoid plate (86.4%) was the most frequent lesion on the symptomatic side, followed by lateral sinus stenosis (55.8%), high jugular bulb (47.1%), sigmoid sinus diverticulum (34.3%), jugular bulb diverticulum (13.6%), dehiscent jugular bulb (13.6%), large emissary vein (4.1%), sinus thrombosis (1.2%), and petrosquamosal sinus (0.8%).

CONCLUSIONSVarious vascular anomalies and variants occur more frequently on the venous PT side. Preliminary findings suggest that venous PT patients may have multiple vascular anomalies or variants on the symptomatic side.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

Intracranial epidermoid cysts are relatively rare congenital inclusion cysts. They are the third most common cerebellopontine angle cistern mass after vestibular schwannoma and meningioma. White epidermoid is a rare variant. We present the first case, to our knowledge, of a white epidermoid cyst anterior to the pontomedullary junction, emphasising its imaging appearance, location and the importance of pre-operative diagnosis, which may reduce operative complications.
Adolescent ; Cerebellar Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; diagnostic imaging ; Epidermal Cyst ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Tinnitus ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Vestibular schwannoma is a rare tumor, which is easily misdiagnosed. The authors presented a case of vestibular schwannoma in a 36-year-old woman. The clinical manifestations were recurrent vertigo, hearing loss of the left ear, and tinnitus. The pure tone audiometry threshold of the left ear was 45dBHL with air conduction, and 33 dBHL with bone conduction. A CT scan of the temporal bone region didn't show any abnormal finding. A MRI scan of the head showed nodule abnormal signal in the internal of left vestibular and the narrow of perilymphaticum gap in T2W1 + T2Flair. The initial diagnosis was Meniere's disease. And the post-operation pathologic diagnosis was vestibular schwannoma.
Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; diagnosis ; Temporal Bone ; Tinnitus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertigo ; Vestibule, Labyrinth