[Pulsatile tinnitus. Causes, diagnostic procedures, case presentation]

The pulsatile tinnitus is a rare sign. It is characterised by a rhythmic sound that is synchronous with the patient's heart beat. The underlying causes vary widely and may be life-threatening. Pulsatile tinnitus may be due to cardiac or vascular malformation, metabolic disorders, hyperdynamic circulatory states, elevated intracranial pressure, and tumours. The diagnostic evaluation includes physical examination, audiologic assessment and often computed image processing for precise topodiagnosis. A case report illustrates our current management of patients with pulsatile tinnitus.