Pulsatile tinnitus due to intracranial arteriovenous fistula indirectly identified by carotid Doppler ultrasound

Pulsatile tinnitus is a specific type of sound caused by vascular anomalies, usually associated with turbulent blood flow, secondary to high-output stenosis or arterial tortuosity. These alterations can produce rhythmic sounds that compromise patients' quality of life. This report describes the case of a 51-year-old woman with pulsating tinnitus in her right ear for 18 months....

Carotid Doppler ultrasound may serve as an indirect, non-invasive clue toward intracranial arteriovenous fistula in pulsatile tinnitus workup, but this single case report is too preliminary to change diagnostic protocols.

Highlights a potential non-invasive screening pathway for a rare but treatable vascular cause of pulsatile tinnitus, which is often under-investigated in audiology settings.

1. 01Single case report linking pulsatile tinnitus to an intracranial arteriovenous fistula.
2. 02Carotid Doppler ultrasound indirectly detected turbulent blood flow as the cause.
3. 03Arteriovenous fistulas are rare but treatable vascular lesions requiring specialist referral.
4. 04Pulsatile tinnitus should prompt vascular workup, especially when no audiological cause is found.
5. 05Findings cannot be generalized; case reports represent the lowest level of clinical evidence.

PMID

42183141

DOI

10.1590/1677-5449.202500462.

Journal

Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology

Publication type

case_report

Evidence level

4

Sample size

1

Population

Single patient presenting with pulsatile tinnitus secondary to intracranial arteriovenous fistula

Intervention

Carotid Doppler ultrasound for indirect identification of intracranial arteriovenous fistula