Operative treatment of surgical lesions with objective tinnitus

This article discusses the importance of the elevation and diagnosis of objective tinnitus (tinnitus heard by the patient and the physician). Intracranial arteriovenous communications and vascular anomalies are most frequently responsible for the tinnitus and auscultable bruits and are highly amenable to current surgical treatment. While the otolaryngologists may initially see these patients and be responsible for the diagnosis of their problem, the surgical correction of the intracranial lesions is usually the province of the neurosurgeon. Illustrative cases of extracranial causes are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the diagnosis and treatment of venous hum. Formerly called cephalic bruit and essential objective tinnitus, venous hum is now a recognized nosological entity that is amenable to treatment by ligation of the internal jugular vein.