Improving Diagnostic Yield in Patients with Pulsatile Tinnitus: A Ten-Year Analysis

To determine the yield of a comprehensive diagnostic algorithm for patients with pulsatile tinnitus (PT) and to review the common etiologies and present clinical pears for their diagnosis.

Retrospective chart review of patients with PT from 2013 to 2023. Charts were reviewed for demographic data (age, sex, BMI), side of PT (or bilateral), specialty clinic of initial evaluation, coexistent symptoms in addition to PT, and final diagnosis (or non-diagnosis). Clinical, audiometric, laboratory, and radiographic data were collected. Putative chart diagnoses were reviewed by the authors and deemed likely or unlikely to be the source of the patient's PT. Those with "unlikely" were grouped in the "idiopathic" cohort. The diagnostic algorithm is presented in detail.

Two hundred and 90 patients were included for analysis. The overall diagnostic yield was 90.7% for all patients and 95.6% for those patients who completed the recommended workup - a substantial improvement over published rates. Twenty-nine etiologies were identified with the most common etiology was idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Twenty-one diagnoses comprised no more than 5% of patients. Seventy-three patients (25.2%) had more than one pathology as a potential source for their PT.

PT can present a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. The findings of this study, however, reveal that proper evaluation based on obtaining a thorough history, performing a physical examination, coupled with properly directed imaging studies and blood testing can accomplish a high diagnostic yield of at least one potential etiology.

4 Laryngoscope, 135:1148-1154, 2025.