RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Reduced Jet Velocity in Venous Flow after CSF Drainage: Assessing Hemodynamic Causes of Pulsatile Tinnitus JF American Journal of Neuroradiology JO Am. J. Neuroradiol. FD American Society of Neuroradiology SP 849 OP 854 DO 10.3174/ajnr.A6043 VO 40 IS 5 A1 H. Haraldsson A1 J.R. Leach A1 E.I. Kao A1 A.G. Wright A1 S.G. Ammanuel A1 R.S. Khangura A1 M.K. Ballweber A1 C.T. Chin A1 V.N. Shah A1 K. Meisel A1 D.A. Saloner A1 M.R. Amans YR 2019 UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/40/5/849.abstract AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is commonly associated with transverse sinus stenosis, a venous cause of pulsatile tinnitus. In patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, CSF drainage via lumbar puncture decreases intracranial pressure, which relieves the stenosis, and may provide at least temporary cessation of pulsatile tinnitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in venous blood flow caused by lowered intracranial pressure in patients with pulsatile tinnitus to help identify the cause of pulsatile tinnitus.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with suspected transverse sinus stenosis as a venous etiology for pulsatile tinnitus symptoms underwent MR imaging before and after lumbar puncture in the same session. The protocol included flow assessment and rating of pulsatile tinnitus intensity before and after lumbar puncture and MR venography before lumbar puncture. Post-lumbar puncture MR venography was performed in 1 subject.RESULTS: There was a lumbar puncture–induced reduction in venous peak velocity that correlated with the opening pressure (r = −0.72, P = .019) without a concomitant reduction in flow rate. Patients with flow jets had their peak velocity reduced by 0.30 ± 0.18 m/s (P = .002), correlating with a reduction in CSF pressure (r = 0.82, P = .024) and the reduction in subjectively scored pulsatile tinnitus intensity (r = 0.78, P = .023). The post-lumbar puncture MR venography demonstrated alleviation of the stenosis.CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a lumbar puncture–induced reduction in venous peak velocity without a concomitant reduction in flow rate. We hypothesize that the reduction is caused by the expansion of the stenosis after lumbar puncture. Our results further show a correlation between the peak velocity and pulsatile tinnitus intensity, suggesting the flow jet to be instrumental in the development of sound.CEcontrast-enhanced2Dflowtime-resolved MR velocimetry in a 2D plane4Dflowtime-resolved MR velocimetry in a 3D volumeIIHidiopathic intracranial hypertensionLPlumbar punctureMRVMR venographyPTpulsatile tinnitus