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← Return to Pulsatile tinnitus Q&A w/ Mayo Clinic expert, Dr. Breen July 16
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Pulsatile tinnitus Q&A w/ Mayo Clinic expert, Dr. Breen July 16
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: Jul 26 6:29am | Replies (31)Comment receiving replies
Dr. Breen thank you for this opportunity.
I have suffered with Puslatile Tinnitus (PT) for 3 & ½ years. I’ve had every test to find the physical cause that I’ve been able to find: hearing test from ENT, carotid scans, temporal bone x-ray, CT scan, cerebral angiogram, which appeared to show irregular blood flow in a cerebral vein. I had sent these results to Dr. Aothos Patsalides in Great Neck NY, interventional neuroradiologist and director of neurointerventioal surgery at North Shore University Hospital. My scans showed diverticums on both my jugular bulbs, perhaps pressing on inner or middle ears. I went to him January 2024 he did brain venogram and temporarily blocked the diverticulum on my left side, the louder side. I still heard the whooshing PT. He did brain angiogram, monaometry test for IIH, negative. He determined that my PT is not vascular. I’ve tried acupuncture, chiropractic and other modalities.
I will profoundly appreciate any input or suggestions.
Replies to "Dr. Breen thank you for this opportunity. I have suffered with Puslatile Tinnitus (PT) for 3..."
Thanks for the "like" Dr. Breen. Do you recommend I contact you at Mayo?
I live in Vero Beach, central FL, East Coast
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I'm sorry to hear you've had such a difficult time with this symptom despite all these efforts. It's hard to comment on your specific situation without being able to look at your images. If the PT is heard to be exactly in sync with your heartbeat, it probably has something to do with blood flow. You can check your pulse and feel/hear if it is synchronized. Also, if it's just in one ear, it's more likely to be vascular. When it's in both ears... it's often less clear. Sometimes ENT doctors can find and treat causes that are not as well managed by neurointerventional procedures, so I would encourage you to meet an ENT doctor in your area with some expertise in ear surgery. Some example diagnoses include sigmoid sinus wall abnormalities or superior semicircular canal dehiscence. You've had lots of the testing - sometimes having a fresh set of eyes to look at everything can be helpful!