Objective: To emphasize the surgical importance of addressing dehiscence over diverticulum in resolving pulsatile tinnitus (PT) in patients with sigmoid sinus wall anomalies (SSWAs) and investigate anatomical differences.
Study design: Retrospective data analysis.
Setting: Multi-institutional tertiary university medical centers.
Patients: Fifty participants (dehiscence/diverticulum, 29:21 cases) with SSWA-associated PT were included in the study. All 21 diverticulum participants underwent surgical intervention.
Interventions: 1) Surgical intervention with novel techniques monitored by intraoperative microphone. 2) Radiologic and ophthalmologic imaging methods.
Main outcome measures: Quantitative and qualitative preoperative and postoperative alterations of PT and anatomical differences between dehiscence and diverticulum.
Results: Addressing dehiscence overlying diverticulum and sigmoid sinus wall dehiscences significantly reduced visual analog score and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory ( p < 0.01). Sinus wall reconstruction led to substantial PT sound intensity reduction in the frequency range of 20 to 1000 Hz and 20 to 500 Hz (paired-sample t test, p < 0.01). Diploic vein analysis showed a significant positive correlation in 85.7% of the diverticulum cohort compared with the dehiscence cohort ( p < 0.01). Eight percent of the participants exhibited papilledema, which was limited to the dehiscence cohort.
Conclusion: 1) Effective reduction of PT can be achieved by addressing all dehiscences, including those overlying the diverticulum, without the need to exclude the diverticulum. 2) Diploic vein may involve in the formation of diverticulum, and loss of dura mater and vascular wall thickness are observed at the SSWA locations.
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