Download PDF
Neuropediatrics 2012; 43(03): 146-148
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1307452
Short Communication
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

A Clockwork Ear

M. Alicandri-Ciufelli
1   ENT Department, Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
,
Davide Soloperto
1   ENT Department, Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
,
Silvia Palma
1   ENT Department, Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
,
Antonino Marrara
1   ENT Department, Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
,
Elisabetta Genovese
1   ENT Department, Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

02 September 2011

28 November 2011

Publication Date:
02 April 2012 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective tinnitus refers to a tinnitus that can also be heard by the examiner. It is a relatively rare condition, and can be misdiagnosed or neglected. Some causes of objective tinnitus are head and neck vascular malformations, or muscular myoclonus of the tensor tympani, stapedial, or palatal muscles. The case of an 11-year-old girl with an objective tinnitus lasting from 1 year is herein presented, and the diagnostic workup performed in this unusual case is described.

Keywords

objective tinnitus - palatal myoclonus - botulinum neurotoxin - inferior olive - audiometric evaluation
 

  • References

  • 1 Brosch S, Riechelmann H, Johannsen HS. Myoclonus of the middle ear. A rare, differential diagnosis for objective tinnitus. HNO 2003; 51 (5) 421-423 (article in German)
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Weider DJ, Kuo A, Spiegel PK, Musiek FE. Objective tinnitus of vascular origin with hearing improvement after treatment. Am J Otol 1990; 11 (6) 437-443
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Xenellis J, Nikolopoulos TP, Felekis D, Tzangaroulakis A. Pulsatile tinnitus: a review of the literature and an unusual case of iatrogenic pneumocephalus causing pulsatile tinnitus. Otol Neurotol 2005; 26 (6) 1149-1151
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Deuschl G, Wilms H. Clinical spectrum and physiology of palatal tremor. Mov Disord 2002; 17 (Suppl 2) S63-S66
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Krause E, Leunig A, Klopstock T, Gürkov R. Treatment of essential palatal myoclonus in a 10-year-old girl with botulinum neurotoxin. Otol Neurotol 2006; 27 (5) 672-675
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Goto N, Kaneko M. Olivary enlargement: chronological and morphometric analyses. Acta Neuropathol 1981; 54 (4) 275-282
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Matsuo F, Ajax ET. Palatal myoclonus, and denervation supersensitivity in the central nervous system. Ann Neurol 1979; 5: 72
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Virtanen H. Objective tubal tinnitus: a report of two cases. J Laryngol Otol 1983; 97 (9) 857-862
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Deuschl G, Toro C, Hallett M. Symptomatic and essential palatal tremor. 2. Differences of palatal movements. Mov Disord 1994; 9 (6) 676-678
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Masucci E, Kurtzke J. Palatal myoclonus associated with extremity tremor. J Neurol 1989; 236 (8) 474-477
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Klein C, Gehrking E, Vieregge P. Voluntary palatal tremor in two siblings. Mov Disord 1998; 13 (3) 545-548
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Nakada T, Kwee IL. Oculopalatal myoclonus. Brain 1986; 109 (Pt 3) 431-441
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Penney SE, Bruce IA, Saeed SR. Botulinum toxin is effective and safe for palatal tremor: a report of five cases and a review of the literature. J Neurol 2006; 253 (7) 857-860
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar