Abstract
Introduction Tinnitus is characterized as the conscious and involuntary perception of sound, and
it affects ∼ 30% of the population. Despite careful physical examination, the etiology
of tinnitus can be established for only 30% of patients. Tinnitus is a common symptom
of cerebral arteriovenous fistulas and results from increased blood flow through the
dural venous sinuses, leading to turbulent arterial flow, mainly related to sigmoid
and transverse sinus lesions.
Objectives To analyze the frequency of tinnitus, patient profile, and endovascular treatment
characteristics in individuals diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistulas.
Methods A retrospective and observational study based on reviewed data from medical records
on the PHILIPS Tasy system (Philips Healthcare, Cambridge, MA, USA) at the neurosurgery
and interventional neuroradiology service of Hospital Santa Isabel in Blumenau–state
of Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Results The profile of 68 individuals diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistula who underwent
endovascular treatment were analyzed. Most patients were female, aged 31 to 60. Tinnitus
affected 18 individuals. Dural fistulas were the most prevalent in the sample, and
computed tomography alone was the most used diagnostic method for initial investigation.
Conclusion The prevalence of this symptom in patients diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous
fistula was found in 26.5% of this sample, mainly in women with associated comorbidities.
Tinnitus remission was observed in all patients who underwent endovascular treatment
to correct cerebral fistula.
Keywords
vascular origin tinnitus - arteriovenous fistulas - endovascular techniques - somatosounds
