Clinical spectrum of patients with erosion of the inner ear by jugular bulb abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE
Anatomic variants of the jugular bulb (JB) are common; however, abnormalities such as large high riding JB and JB diverticulum (JBD) are uncommon. Rarely, the abnormal JB may erode into the inner ear. The goal of our study is to report a large series of patients with symptomatic JB erosion into the inner ear.


METHODS
Retrospective review in an academic medical center.


METHODS
Eleven patients with JB abnormality eroding into the inner ear were identified on computed tomography (CT) scan of the temporal bone.


RESULTS
Age at presentation was from 5 years to 82 years with six males and five females. The large JB or JBD eroded into the vestibular aqueduct (n = 9) or the posterior semicircular canal (n = 4). The official radiology report usually identified the JB abnormality; however, erosion into these structures by the JB was not mentioned in all but one case. All patients were symptomatic with five having conductive hearing loss (CHL) and three complaining of pulsatile tinnitus. Those with pulsatile tinnitus and four of five with CHL had erosion into the vestibular aqueduct. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) findings in three of six patients were consistent with dehiscence of the inner ear.


CONCLUSIONS
High riding large JB or JBD can erode into the inner ear and may be associated with CHL and/or pulsatile tinnitus. CT scan is diagnostic and should be examined specifically for these lesions. As patients with pulsatile tinnitus may initially undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan, identification of JB abnormality should prompt CT scan or VEMP testing to evaluate for inner ear erosion.
Friedmann
David R
DR
Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA.
Le
B Thuy
BT
Pramanik
Bidyut K
BK
Lalwani
Anil K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014723:Vestibular Aqueduct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D055815:Young Adult