title: Diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography in the radiological evaluation of pulsatile tinnitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess the diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging with complimentary magnetic resonance angiography (MRI/MRA) in the radiological evaluation of patients with pulsatile tinnitus (PT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was retrospectively conducted on 27 patients with pulsatile tinnitus. All patients showed normal otoscopic findings and were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with complimentary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), 9/27 (33.3%) patients were investigated by CT, and 12/27 (44.4%) were evaluated by angiography. All patients' clinical investigation was reviewed to discard systemic causes of PT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All hard copies of MRI/MRA studies were evaluated. MRI/MRA detected the underlying etiology of subjective pulsatile tinnitus (PT) in 11/27 patients (40.7%), and 16/27 patients (59.5%) showed normal MRI/MRA examination. The most common cause was dural arteriovenous malformation (AFM) in 4/27 (14.8%) patients, high jugular bulbus in 2/27 (7.4%), aneurysm of internal carotid artery in 1/27 (3.7%), aberrant internal carotid artery in 1/27 (3.7%), vertebral artery hypoplasia in 2/27 (7.4%), and glomus tumor in 1/27 (3.7%). The statistical results of the present study showed that MRI/MRA had the following: 80% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 86% accuracy, 85% PPV, 83% NPV, and 15% error percentage for diagnosis of PT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI/MRA was an effective radiological imaging method in detecting the underlying pathology of pulsatile tinnitus. Magnetic resonance may be considered a first line diagnostic imaging modality in the assessment of subjective pulsatile tinnitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Minia University Hospital, Al-Minia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shweel
authors.forename: Balegh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamdy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000002:abnormalities; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology*; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA