Somatosound: A review with report of 9 cases with long-term follow-up

Abstract

Somatosound (somatic tinnitus) is associated with vascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory, or temporomandibular joint disorders. Several studies of its management have been widely reported, but only few presented long-term follow-up results. The purposes of this paper are to review the causes and management, present cases with long-term follow-up, together with previously reported cases in literatures. We treated nine patients with somatosound of vascular, hematologic, endocrinologic, muscular, and cervical origin. Follow-up were conducted routinely, and the final results were collated in 3 to 11 years. Patients with non-life-threatening causes were given counseling and palliative management. Their tinnitus becomes tolerable, gradually decreased, and even disappeared. Patients with life-threatening causes were treated immediately. Among all, there were three cases which to the best of our knowledge, are the first reported of its causes. One case was caused by a compensatory of increasing blood flow in internal carotid artery (ICA) secondary to contralateral ICA stenosis. Another had a combination of anemia and an ipsilateral jugular bulb diverticulum. The tinnitus disappeared after the anemia treated. The last was patient with hyperthyroidism. The tinnitus disappeared by controlling the condition. Even when the causes are benign and the available treatments may carry risks, the patients should not be left unmanaged. Symptomatic treatment should be given, such as counseling, sound therapy, and palliative management. Our long-term observation indicated that overall outcomes are positive when the etiologies are identified early and managed properly.