Carotid Doppler Ultrasound Evaluation in Patients with Pulsatile Tinnitus

Abstract

A wide range of conditions, including atherosclerosis, may lead to pulsatile tinnitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the patients with pulsatile tinnitus by means of carotid Doppler ultrasound parameters. Thirty-four patients with pulsatile tinnitus were enrolled in the study. Internal carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), blood flow velocities and arterial lumen diameters (LD) were measured and compared with the control group. Mean end diastolic velocity (EDV) (32.29 ± 17.22) and IMT (1.06 ± 0.36) values were significantly higher and mean LD (6.69 ± 1.20) was significantly lower compared to the control group. Peak systolic velocity and EDV values were significantly higher in patients whose IMT were greater than 1 mm. Pulsatile tinnitus may be the first symptom of a severe, life threatening disease. Doppler sonography is a noninvasive, safe and easily applicable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the vascular structures, in patients with pulsatile tinnitus.

The assessment of the balance system in cranial artery stenosis

“…A similar view is presented by Melliere, Le Chevillier, Ecollan, and Fitoussi (1992) and Terzi et al (2015) Eckstein et al (2008) and Melliere et al (1992), showing that patients with the impaired blood flow in the cranial arteries also demonstrated postural disorders. Findings obtained by numerous authors and our research indicate that patients with this type of abnormalities should be examined for cerebral blood flow and inner ear disorders.…”

“…A similar view is presented by Melliere, Le Chevillier, Ecollan, and Fitoussi (1992) and Terzi et al. (2015) who described otoneurological disorders in patients with cerebral ischemia caused by cranial artery stenosis. Kaźmierski, Kasielska, Bogusiak, Łysakowski, and Stelągowski (2012) found that up to 90% of patients with internal carotid artery stenosis felt vertigo, while tinnitus was experienced by about 80% of patients.…”

“…The narrowing of cranial vessels may be asymptomatic or produce typical neurological symptoms. Very often, however, nonspecific signs of ischemia occur, such as headache, vertigo, or dizziness (Seemungal, 2007; Terzi, Arslanoglu, Demiray, Eren, & Cancuri, 2015). They may indicate clinically relevant stenosis of the cranial arteries, mainly in the area of the vertebral artery and internal carotid artery, as well as the risk of ischemic stroke.…”

“…The narrowing of cranial vessels may be asymptomatic or produce typical neurological symptoms. Very often, however, nonspecific signs of ischemia occur, such as headache, vertigo, or dizziness (Seemungal, 2007;Terzi, Arslanoglu, Demiray, Eren, & Cancuri, 2015).…”

The evaluation of the sense of hearing in patients with carotid artery stenosis within the extracranial segments

“…Carotid artery stenosis may be asymptomatic or have common neurological symptoms, such as motor and sensory disorders as well as vision or speech disturbances [2]. However, we usually encounter very discrete, non-specific symptoms of ischemia such as headaches, dizziness, tinnitus and hearing loss [3].…”