More articles from HEAD AND NECK IMAGING

Transmastoid sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction (SSWR) is a surgical technique used for the treatment of pulsatile tinnitus arising from sigmoid sinus wall anomalies. In 13 patients, CT and MR imaging examinations were assessed for the characteristics of the materials used for reconstruction, the impact of these on the adjacent sigmoid sinus, and complications. The various materials used for reconstruction (NeuroAlloderm, HydroSet, bone pate) showed characteristic imaging appearances and could be consistently identified. In 5/13 patients, there was extrinsic compression of the sigmoid sinus by graft material. Dural sinus thrombosis occurred in 2 patients. Symptoms requiring postoperative imaging after SSWR include headaches, visual disturbances, and persistent or recurrent tinnitus.