Our Experience in Pulsatile Tinnitus and a Normal Tympanic Membrane in 66 Patients

Introduction Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) can harbor potentially life-threatening conditions (LTCs), whereby a delay in diagnosis could be disastrous. Objective The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether associated signs and symptoms at presentation could help identify a subgroup of high-risk patients. Methods A total of 66 patients with PT were retrospectively assessed. The diagnoses were classified as group I with an LTC or not in group II. Results There were 4 patients (6%) with a final diagnosis of LTC (group I) and 62 patients (94%) without a final diagnosis of LTC or no diagnosis (group II). The results were not quite statistically significant regarding the trauma and were strongly statistically significant regarding headache and the cranial nerve paralysis. Conclusion The combination of PT with any of the three features of occipital headache, cranial nerve palsy, and recent trauma should alert the clinician to potentially serious causes.