Which Scans to Possibly Find a Cause?

[Rafaa]

Hi

I have pulsatile tinnitus and regular tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus occurs with increase in heart rate/changes in blood pressure, bending over, standing up, sometimes moving head left and right.

When I tap my neck, under my ear and lower down where the carotid artery runs (or jugular) I hear it loudly in my ear and its actually hitting the thing that is causing my regular tinnitus as I hear a high pitched thump too. I can also stop a pulsatile tinnitus episode by pressing the artery or vein.

Please advise on all scans that are needed to rule out a physical problem causing pulsatile tinnitus. Thank you.

 

[Samir]

Physical examination followed by a CT and/or MRI scan.

 

[GregCA]

Please advise on all scans that are needed to rule out a physical problem causing pulsatile tinnitus. Thank you.

Please see https://www.tinnitusresearch.net/index.php/for-clinicians/diagnostic-flowchart

 

[Rafaa]

Physical examination followed by a CT and/or MRI scan.

A regular MRI? Ive seen posts about MRI with contrast, MRA etc.

 

[Rafaa]

Please see https://www.tinnitusresearch.net/index.php/for-clinicians/diagnostic-flowchart

thanks this is helpful.

Will not let them discharge me this time without all the scans.

Especially when I exhibit physical symptoms such as the tapping on the neck, and manipulating tinnitus by moving my ear both ways.

 

[Tinniger]

A regular MRI? Ive seen posts about MRI with contrast, MRA etc.

Yes, with contrast, T2-weighted.

 

[Rafaa]

Yes, with contrast, T2-weighted.

thanks Ill look into and request it.

I didn't make a big deal about my PT when I first got T all those years ago. Think they didn't know about it.