Tinnitus and Paget's disease of bone

Evaluation and Management of Tinnitus: Are There Opportunities for Improvement?

OBJECTIVE

To review current information about diagnosis and management of tinnitus aiming to identify opportunities for achieving a cost-effective, efficient, evidence-based approach that meets the needs of tinnitus sufferers.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed/MEDLINE.

REVIEW METHODS

In total, 249 relevant published reports were reviewed. Pertinent keywords and MeSH terms identified reports via PubMed and EMBASE. Acknowledged experts were consulted on ways to improve tinnitus management.

CONCLUSIONS

There may be opportunities to improve evaluation and management of patients with tinnitus using modern modes of communication and a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Tinnitus can adversely affect quality of life while being time-consuming and costly to evaluate and manage. Based on both personal experience and the reports of others, patients with tinnitus who choose to see a physician primarily want to know two things: (1) that the tinnitus that is so distressing will not remain at the same level of severity forever and (2) that something can be done to help cope with the tinnitus that is so annoying. Recent advancements in internet communications, social media, information technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, holistic medical care, mind-body integrative health care, and multidisciplinary approaches in medical therapeutics may be possibly making new ways of meeting the needs of patients with tinnitus.

Methods, Applications, and Limitations of Somatic Maneuvers for the Modulation of Tinnitus

The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were summarized according to four body areas (jaw, head and neck, eye, and limbs), following which their applications and limitations were assessed. Although some studies have shown that somatic maneuvers can aid in screening for somatic tinnitus and may help alleviate symptoms with repeated practice, the limited number of studies and inconsistent results among studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Therefore, follow-up studies are required to overcome these limitations and determine whether the treatment of somatic disorders can also aid in alleviating somatic tinnitus.

CT Assessment of Otic Capsule Bone Density in Paget's Disease of the Temporal Bone and Its Relationship With Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVES

To study computed tomography findings in Paget's disease of temporal bone (PDTB) and analyze the relations between otic capsule bone mineral density values measured in Hounsfield Units (HU) and hearing loss (HL).

STUDY DESIGN

Observational case-control study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Radiographically confirmed PDTB cases and control group.

INTERVENTION

Diagnostic.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hearing thresholds and computed tomography bone density values.

RESULTS

Twenty-three ears in the case group (PDTB) and 27 control ears were included. In the PDTB group, HL was found in 87% of the ears (43% mixed) and an air-conduction threshold of 50.7 dB (SD = 19.8). In the control group, 48% of the ears showed HL (7% mixed) and an air-conduction threshold of 34.5 dB (SD = 20.6) was found; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Measurements of bone density (HU) in the otic capsule (regions of interest [ROI] 1 and 2) and in the petrous bone (ROI 3) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the PDTB group than in controls.The PDTB group presented a significant association between otic capsule bone density in ROI 1 and mean otic capsule density with air and bone-conduction thresholds (p < 0.05). In controls, no association was observed between any density value and audiometric thresholds.

CONCLUSION

PDTB patients showed more frequent HL, lower thresholds, and a higher proportion of mixed HL than controls. Bone density (HU) was decreased in all ROIs in PDTB patients in comparison with controls. Bone density in the otic capsule was associated with HL in PDTB patients, but no association was observed between bone density and HL in controls.

Detecting causes of pulsatile tinnitus on CT arteriography-venography: A pictorial review

Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) can be a mild or debilitating symptom. Following clinical examination and otoscopy, when the underlying aetiology is not apparent, radiological imaging can be used to evaluate further. CT arteriography-venography (CT A-V) of the head and neck has recently been introduced as a single 'one catch' modality for identifying the many causes of PT including those which are treatable and potentially serious whilst also providing reassurance through negative studies or studies with benign findings. CT A-V is performed as a single phase study allowing both arterial and venous assessment, hence limiting radiation exposure. Additional multiplanar reformats and bone reconstructions are desirable. Understanding the limitations of CT A-V is also required, with an awareness of the scenarios where other imaging modalities should be considered. The causes of PT can be divided into systemic and non-systemic categories. Non-systemic aetiologies in the head and neck should be carefully reviewed on CT A-V and include a variety of vascular causes (arteriovenous malformations/fistulas, venous or arterial aetiologies) and non-vascular causes (tumours and bony dysplasias). Venous causes (dominant, aberrant, stenosed or thrombosed venous vessels) are more common than arterial aetiologies (aberrant or stenosed internal carotid artery, aneurysms or a persistent stapedial artery). Glomus tumours that are not visible on otoscopy and osseous pathologies such as bony dehiscence and otospongiosis should also be excluded. Careful assessment of all the potential vascular and non-vascular causes should be reviewed in a systematic approach, with correlation made with the clinical history. A structured reporting template for the reporting radiologist is provided in this review to ensure all the potential causes of PT are considered on a CT A-V study. This will help in providing a comprehensive radiological evaluation, hence justifying the radiation dose and for patient assessment and prognostication.

Beethoven's autopsy revisited: A pathologist sounds a final note

This review of the original autopsy report of Beethoven's remains indicates Paget's disease within the skull, which was dense and twice normal thickness, with dilated vessels at the petrous bone. The facial nerves were enlarged and the eighth nerves atrophied despite their sharing a common meatus at the internal auditory canal. Nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis with cortical and perinephric abscesses were also reported. The hypercalcaemia was probably caused by hyperparathyroidism, which may be associated with Paget's disease, and both may have played a role in his psychiatric symptoms as well as in his abdominal pain and gastrointestinal complaints. Since Paget's disease may also be associated with gout, some of the joint pains could be attributable to this as well. Hypovitaminosis A from chronic pancreatitis is suggested as a cause of painful eyes and either quinine abuse or severe hypercalcaemia as a cause of arrhythmias. Beethoven died of terminal cirrhosis with chronic pancreatitis, most likely related to chronic excessive intake of alcohol. Thus, Paget's disease, complicated by hyperparathyroidism, gout, and attempts to find relief of symptoms through the use of alcohol, quinine, and possibly salicylates can explain virtually all of Beethoven's medical problems, some of which appear to have influenced his musical compositions.

Imaging Interpretation of Temporal Bone Studies in a Patient with Tinnitus: A Systematic Approach

Tinnitus is an auditory perception of internal origin. Tinnitus is not a diagnosis but a symptom with many possible causes and correspondingly divergent pathophysiologic, anatomic, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations. This article provides a summary of the imaging findings of structural causes of tinnitus.

Paget's disease of bone

Paget's disease is an osteoclastic-mediated disorder of bone that results in abnormal bone resorption associated with inadequate remodeling that leads to mechanically weakened bone. Demonstrating variable geographic prevalence, it is becoming less frequent and age of onset is lengthening in areas of once high prevalence prior to the institution of effective medical therapies, suggesting its etiology involves both environmental as well as genetic factors. Insights into its pathophysiology are helping to clarify other inherited osteolytic disorders of bone by providing additional insights into related cellular processes.

Midterm outcome of risedronate therapy for patients with Paget's disease of bone in the central part of Japan

Although Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is common in western countries, it is extremely rare in Asian ones including Japan. Recently, oral risedronate (17.5 mg once daily) was approved in Japan as a treatment of PDB besides calcitonin and etidronate. However, there are few data regarding the efficacy of this agent, dose for patients with PDB in Japan, or the durability of its effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the midterm outcome of oral risedronate (17.5 mg once daily) for patients with PDB in Japan. Seventeen patients with PDB were treated with risedronate (17.5 mg once daily) for 8 weeks. Efficacy and its durability were accessed based on serum total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and symptoms. Risedronate effectively suppressed bone turnover evaluated with serum total ALP in all patients. In 8 of 10 patients with bone pain, risedronate reduced the pain. On the other hand, tinnitus and hearing loss did not disappear but somewhat improved. None of the patients suffered severe complications. Seven of 17 patients required readministration of oral bisphosphonate (risedronate, six; alendronate, one) due to elevated total ALP at 27 months (mean ranging from 9 to 39 months) after the initial administration of risedronate. Treatment of oral risedronate (17.5 mg once daily) for 8 weeks is safe and effective for patients with PDB in Japan. However, the durability of its effect is limited in some patients.

A compartment-based approach for the imaging evaluation of tinnitus

Tinnitus affects 10% of the US general population and is a common indication for imaging studies. We describe a sequential compartment-based diagnostic approach, which simplifies the interpretation of imaging studies in patients with tinnitus. The choice of the initial imaging technique depends on the type of tinnitus, associated symptoms, and examination findings. Familiarity with the pathophysiologic mechanisms of tinnitus and the imaging findings is a prerequisite for a tailored diagnostic approach by the radiologist.

Imaging in pulsatile tinnitus

Tinnitus may be continuous or pulsatile. Vascular lesions are the most frequent radiologically demonstrable cause of pulsatile tinnitus. These include congenital vascular anomalies (which may be arterial or venous), vascular tumours, and a variety of acquired vasculopathies. The choice of imaging depends on the clinical findings. If a mass is present at otoscopy, thin-section computed tomography (CT) is indicated. In the otoscopically normal patient, there is a range of possible imaging approaches. However, combined CT angiography and venography is particularly useful.