Clinical characteristics of pulsatile tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus diverticulum and wall dehiscence: a study of 54 patients

Abstract

Conclusions: CT angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are valuable tools in imaging work-ups for the diagnosis of sigmoid sinus diverticulum (SSD) and sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence (SSWD). The development of pulsatile tinnitus (PT) resulting from SSD and SSWD may be associated with the dominance of venous systems.

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of PT caused by SSD and SSWD.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review undertaken in a tertiary academic referral center. Fifty-four patients with PT due to SSD and SSWD were recruited. Hospital files of these patients were assessed. Data included medical history, physical examinations, auxiliary examinations, and radiographic findings of CTA and DSA.

Results: The study population comprised 51 females and 3 males. Most patients with PT caused by SSD and SSWD were middle-aged women. All had normal otoscopy results. Anomalies occurred in or adjacent to the region of the transverse-sigmoid sinus junction in 52 patients. Half of the patients (27/54) presented abnormal results of examination of blood lipids. There were 57.41% (31/54) cases with ipsilateral dominance of the venous system, 9.26% (5/54) cases with contralateral dominance, and 33.33% (18/54) cases with co-dominance of the venous system.