Clinical Spotlight: Interventional Radiology Department at the Forefront of Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment
Although nearly five million Americans suffer from pulsatile tinnitus, surprisingly little is known about the condition. A rare subcategory of tinnitus—a condition where patients perceive a sound that has no external source—pulsatile tinnitus (PT) is characterized by a rhythmic, thumping quality, typically synchronized with one’s heartbeat. Although symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus range in severity, at its most extreme, it can seriously hinder a patient’s ability to sleep, exercise, and focus.
Located within the Interventional Radiology Department, Northwestern Medicine’s Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic is one of the few clinics in the U.S. dedicated to evaluating and treating patients with pulsatile tinnitus. The clinic boasts leading experts in the fields of neurointerventional surgery, neurology, and interventional neuroradiology, all working to diagnose and treat patients who suffer from this potentially debilitating condition.
Lucas Martinez, a PA in the Neuro Interventional Radiology team, is one of those experts. According to him, one of the most rewarding aspects of working in the PT Clinic is helping these patients find relief. “I think people underestimate how disruptive the ringing of the ears can be for many people.” For some patients struggling with PT, normal activities like sleeping and exercising only aggravate their symptoms.
Martinez and his team in the Interventional Radiology Department are on the front lines of establishing a 4D flow imaging program to scan patients with PT. This technology allows radiologists to observe in real time the flow of blood to the brain and identify any irregularities in the vascular system, such as swollen veins or irregular connections between veins and arteries. 4D flow imaging can also allow neuro radiologists to identify more malignant causes to PT, namely, aneurysms. If the root of the PT is determined to be vascular in nature, Martinez can recommend patients to receive minimally invasive procedures. These procedures—be it a stenting procedure, endovascular surgery, or sealing a fistula with surgical grade glue—typically only require a day-long stay in the hospital and offer immediate relief.
According to Martinez, an increasing number of the patients he treats are from out of state. “A lot of these people have been told PT is just something they’ll have to live with," he explained. For many of these patients, simply having their symptoms taken seriously is an immense relief. Helping patients learn the underlying causes for seemingly untreatable disorders is what drew Martinez to neurovascular radiology in the first place. Another diagnostic tool the clinic is investing in to identify PT is a transcanal recording. “This is where we put a machine into a patient’s ear, and we’re actually able to hear the sound these patients are hearing,” Dr. Martinez explained. “It reassures patients that there is a physical cause to the sound; that they’re not going crazy. We hear it, too!”