Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
A Low Cost Setup for Behavioral Audiometry in Rodents
Published on: October 16, 2012
Screening Utility of Ambient Pressure Tympanometry for the Detection of Radiologic Correlates of Subjective Pulsatile
Christian Bernard1, Cyrus Khorassani1, Monica Amarante2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL.
Objective:
To determine the sensitivity and specificity of ambient pressure tympanometry (APT) for the detection of a radiologic correlate of subjective pulsatile tinnitus (PT).
Study Design:
Retrospective review.
Setting:
Tertiary care clinic.
Patients:
107 adults (147 ears) with PT who underwent APT between 2021 and 2025.
Interventions:
Blinded audiologists classified APT tracings as pulse-synchronous or not.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sensitivity and specificity of APT using any radiologic diagnosis or surgeon-defined diagnosis as 2 separate gold standards.
Results:
Of 137 (93.2%) ears that underwent imaging, 63 (46%) had a pulse-synchronous APT pattern. Fifty-one (37.2%) had a radiologic correlate, and 65 (44.2%) were given a surgeon diagnosis. Respectively, APT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 51%, 57%, 41.3%, and 66.2% for a radiologic correlate and were 43.1%, 54.9%, 43.1%, and 54.9% for a surgeon diagnosis. In a subgroup of 86 patients (116 ears) with a chief complaint of PT, APT sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for a radiologic correlate were 56.9%, 54.2%, 46%, and 55.2%, and for a surgeon diagnosis were 43.6%, 54.1%, 46.2%, and 51.6%.
Conclusion:
With a low sensitivity and specificity, APT may not be a reliable screening tool for the detection of a radiologic correlate of subjective PT. Clinicians should continue to pursue radiologic evaluation of PT despite a negative APT and counsel patients on the limits of imaging and the potential need for multiple modalities for the detection of subjective PT sources.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Assessing Body Temperature - Tympanic membrane
Step 1: Begin by practicing good hand hygiene to prevent the transmission of microorganisms.
Step 2: Turn on the thermometer and wait until the ready sign appears on the screen to ensure accurate measurement.
Step 3: Slide the probe cover in place to prevent cross-contamination.
Step 4: Instruct the patient to tilt their head to the side for comfort and check for cerumen...
01:29Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract III: Percussion
Percussion in Respiratory Assessment
Percussion evaluates underlying tissue composition with audible and tactile vibrations,...
01:28Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
01:17Measurement of Blood Pressure
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
01:28Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract IV: Auscultation
Breath Sounds
Breath sounds are categorized into vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial.