title: Carotid Doppler ultrasound evaluation in patients with pulsatile tinnitus.
abstract: A wide range of conditions, including atherosclerosis, may lead to pulsatile tinnitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the patients with pulsatile tinnitus by means of carotid Doppler ultrasound parameters. Thirty-four patients with pulsatile tinnitus were enrolled in the study. Internal carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), blood flow velocities and arterial lumen diameters (LD) were measured and compared with the control group. Mean end diastolic velocity (EDV) (32.29 ± 17.22) and IMT (1.06 ± 0.36) values were significantly higher and mean LD (6.69 ± 1.20) was significantly lower compared to the control group. Peak systolic velocity and EDV values were significantly higher in patients whose IMT were greater than 1 mm. Pulsatile tinnitus may be the first symptom of a severe, life threatening disease. Doppler sonography is a noninvasive, safe and easily applicable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the vascular structures, in patients with pulsatile tinnitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Atatürk Research and Training Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslanoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, State Hospital, Tatvan, Turkey.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Demiray
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Atatürk Research and Training Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, State Hospital, Gazimagusa, Famagusta, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cancuri
keywords: Carotid atherosclerosis; Doppler ultrasonography; Pulsatile tinnitus