Venous sinus diverticulum in patients with pulsatile tinnitus: An acquired lesion.

Abstract

BACKGROUND The etiopathogenesis of venous sinus diverticulum is controversial. Conflicting evidence has been published suggesting that venous sinus diverticulum is either a congenital or acquired lesion. METHODS This is a case report of a single individual followed for 17 years within a single healthcare system. RESULTS An early middle-aged woman presented with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus, vertigo, and decreased hearing. Initial imaging was unrevealing. Interval imaging after 13 years revealed the development of an ipsilateral venous sinus diverticulum. The patient was treated via endovascular stenting and coiling of the lesion with complete resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that a venous sinus diverticulum in a patient with pulsatile tinnitus is an acquired lesion. Further research is warranted to better elucidate the precise etiology and pathophysiology of acquired venous sinus diverticulum, potentially guiding management strategies.