So I've been struggling with pulsatile tinnitus 24/7 for the past 6 months which was put down to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. I had the usual CT and MRI scans but they were on an 'open' scanner and I was told the quality is not as good as a 3T 'closed' MRI scanner. So I've just been through 3 scans on that. And...the report shows that I have 2 arteries in my head (anterior inferior cerebellar arteries (AICAs) that have looped and are touching the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve in the left side of my head (the side I have pulsatile tinnitus) and are close but not as close on the right side. This is known to be related to pulsatile tinnitus. (though of course many people with pulsatile tinnitus do NOT have a vascular cause). I'm still digesting that news. I think it's not great (but it's not a tumour). I think my next steps are going to be to see a neurologist. 😱😱
Scans have shown something : So I've been... - Tinnitus UK
Scans have shown something
Hi SueX,
In reality this is kind of positive for you, as it shows a physical cause for your tinnitus. So at least you aren't going mad! Fingers crossed that the neurologist can offer something helpful.
Good luck, Pete
My PT is vascular, I don't know about other people? Good luck with your neurologist. At least some answers can put your mind at rest.
Hi SueX. Fingers crossed that you find a Neurologist who can sort you out and thanks for posting. Good luck and please keep us informed.
Everything I read scares the crap out of me.I have a dear workmate who has had T for 12 years and it is so severe he cannot think/ sleep/ function.Our boss tells him to ignore it,his GP tells him he will adapt to it in time...
WEll, I read that as good news Sue, e.g; physical causation and possible surgery to correct it. I am sure I have read that the looped AICA's can be operated on and corrected. Your Neurologist will discuss the pros and cons of this carefully with you.
Good luck and keep us posted on developments. I would be optimistic at this point if I were in your shoes. All sounds quite promising.
Sue. My scan also showed AICA loop but the consultant refused to connect this to PT as apparently even though the radiologist gave a report that this could be the cause he suggested not. All the reports on the web say it is connected so very frustrating. However as I said I am scheduled for surgery on the bone on inner ear. Good luck and let’s hope they suggest a solution based on the AICA loop issue as it is real.
Didn't realise that there are different types of MRI scan that focus on different kinds of information. I'm having a MRI IAMs scan at the beginning of April. Now I know to ask what kind of scan that is and what it looks for. Did you get all your scans through NHS may I ask?
Complicated. I was offered an NHS scan but I'm horrifically claustraphobic so I asked for an 'open' scan which couldn't be done on the NHS. So I paid to have my own open scans. But...they showed a poss problem but not in enough detail. I was told that to get the detail needed I must have scans on a closed scanner and preferably a 3 Tesla machine rather than 1.5 Tesla (that's the strength of the magnets and 3T gives better imaging for head apparently though 1.5 is usually fine). But because I had 'messed the NHS around' by initially saying 'no' to their scan offer, it seemed to get very complicated to get myself back in the system to now have an NHS closed scan. So I had the closed scans privately also. Although I'm VERY claustraphobic it wasn't hell and I wished I had gone with option 1 (NHS closed scan) as that would have saved me a LOT of money. I was silly .
You're not silly, my sister has claustrophobia, so I understand, somewhat, how yo feel.
I was soooooooooooooooooooo proud of myself to get in a closed machine. I haven't used a lift for 10 years, hate the tubes and even when I had to have my thyroid removed I didn't go in a 'closed' scanner. But deciding whether I could live with Tinnitus and no diagnosis vs finding out what is actually wrong, that was all the motivation I needed to get in the scanner!
Now suffering from Pulsatile Tinnitus. 
Pulsatile tinnitus advice
Somatic tinnitus 
