Dr. Breen at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, is indeed an otologist/neurotologist, but his focus is primarily on ear surgery and tumors (like acoustic neuroma, chronic ear infections, and hearing loss), not on pulsatile tinnitus from vascular or cervical causes. The best hospital on the east coast is Johns Hopkins for cervical neck issues and tinnitus. However, Mayo Clinic Florida (Jacksonville) has one of the more complete neuro-otology and neuroradiology programs on the East Coast for pulsatile tinnitus.
Key Points to Raise at Mayo Clinic Florida. Describe the timing clearly:
Emphasize that your pulsatile tinnitus and neck pain began together on the same side — that pattern supports a possible cervicogenic or somatosensory component. Does Mayo’s team include somatosensory tinnitus specialists ? I see you are starting neck traction. So for your condition :
• Cervical traction or myofascial therapy (to reduce neck compression)
• Postural retraining or neuromuscular therapy.
Mayo Florida can also forward cases internally for remote review by the Johns Hopkins teams — they sometimes do inter-institutional image consultations. You can simply say:
“If Mayo’s evaluation remains inconclusive, could you facilitate an external imaging review by Johns Hopkins.
• Johns Hopkins Pulsatile Tinnitus Center (Baltimore, MD) – Dr. David Eisenman / Dr. Gregory Christoforidis
Dr Eisenman's dept reviews prior CTAs and MRAs that were read as “normal.” but cases remain unresolved. He routinely reviews imaging for subtle vascular or bone-related findings missed elsewhere by other doctors and works closely with neurologists and neuroradiologists to identify vascular, venous, or cervicogenic mechanisms — exactly the type of overlap described in OP's case. If the neck traction therapy doesn't work get a second opinion.