Clinical management strategies of pulsatile tinnitus with transverse sinus stenosis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies for vein-related pulsatile tinnitus patients with transverse sinus stenosis. Methods: The clinical data of patients with vein-related pulsatile tinnitus, from January 2015 to August 2019, were collected,whose digital subtraction angiography showing transverse sinus stenosis. Taking December 2019 as the last follow-up time, we analyzed the clinical characteristics, CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography results, lumbar puncture pressure and cerebrospinal fluid composition, and other auxiliary examination results (pure tone audiometry, fundus examination of papilledema, carotid ultrasonography, bone density screening, endocrinous test), as well as tinnitus handicap inventory, treatment options and follow-up results. Results: 83 patients were enrolled with female of 89.2% (74/83) and male of 10.8%(9/83); 65.1% (54/83) with right tinnitus, 31.3% (26/83) with left tinnitus, and 3.6% (3/83) with bilateral tinnitus; 67.5% (56/83) with right dominant sinus, 19.3% (16/83) with left dominant sinus, 13.3% (11/83) with bilateral equalization; Bilateral and ipsilateral stenosis accounted for 55.4% and 44.6% respectively; BMI was overweight or obese in 41 cases (49.4%, 41/83). Patients with tinnitus handicap inventory level three or above accounted for 79.5% (66/83). Eventually, 33 patients chose conservative observation (39.8%, 33/83), 40 patients (48.2%), 8 patients (9.6%) and 2 patients (2.4%) received sigmoid sinus-related surgery, interventional surgery, or emissary vein occlusion respectively. The mean follow-up time of 74 patients was 26.2 months. The data of 48 surgery patients showed that the pressure differences of venous sinus among the recurrent patients were more obvious; Interventional surgery with simultaneous stenting placement was effective. Tinnitus did not decrease in two patients with emissary vein occlusion. Analysis of 26 patients with lumbar puncture revealed eight cases of normal cranial pressure and 18 cases of high cranial pressure. The sinus pressure difference between the two groups was different (P=0.025), but the difference of age of onset, concomitant symptoms, BMI, proportion of empty sella or papilledema was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: The evaluation of patients with vein-related pulsatile tinnitus requires a standardized procedure. Papilledema cannot be used as a sensitive indicator in patients with early intracranial hypertension. Venous sinus pressure difference may be one of the indicators of intracranial hypertension, and the lumbar puncture is the gold standard for the diagnosis. Weight loss can be used as a conservative treatment during the observation period. Significant sinus stenosis is a risk factor for recurrence in patients undergoing sigmoid sinus surgery. Interventional stenting is an effective treatment for tinnitus secondary to transverse sinus stenosis.