Objective Tinnitus of Nasopharyngeal Origin

We report a rare case of objective tinnitus induced by nasopharyngeal muscle constriction. A 49-year-old female patient presented at the clinic with unintentional sounds coming from the nasal cavity while talking or swallowing, which were similar to the lip-smacking sound. Physical examination revea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ear, nose, & throat journal nose, & throat journal, 2023-08, p.1455613231194749-1455613231194749
Main Authors: Kim, Ki-Won, Lee, Gilmoon, Choi, Ick Soo, Lee, Jeon Mi
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We report a rare case of objective tinnitus induced by nasopharyngeal muscle constriction. A 49-year-old female patient presented at the clinic with unintentional sounds coming from the nasal cavity while talking or swallowing, which were similar to the lip-smacking sound. Physical examination revealed a hypertrophic posterior nasopharyngeal wall and torus tubarius at rest. With voluntary effort, the posterior pharyngeal wall protruded prominently and collided with the torus tubarius on either side, generating a sound when they were separated. Botox injection was recommended but the patient refused. The diagnosis and treatment of objective tinnitus are well established, but in some cases, it may occur under unexpected conditions. We report a novel type of objective tinnitus. A thorough physical examination for tinnitus could reveal the cause.
ISSN:0145-5613
1942-7522
DOI:10.1177/01455613231194749