Lately I have heard from a number of people diagnosed with jugular paragangliomas, "JPG" (aka glomus jugulare, jugular foramen paraganglioma, temporal bone paraganglioma, glomus tumor).  As listed on a number of medical sites, pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom of this condition.  This site from Columbia University Medical Center describes some symptoms and (albeit brief) examples of proposed treatments.

[Note to Columbia University Medical Center: pulsatile tinnitus is NOT ringing in the ears!]

From the medical literature published recently, it appears that, perhaps like many other conditions, the discussion about proposed treatments for JPGs is evolving.  The links below include recent abstracts of medical reports that discuss methods of management and treatment of JPGs. As with many other causes, many patients diagnosed with jugular paraganglioma are faced with a choice of treatment, and that choice can often be a very difficult one to make.  There are a number of medical reports available online about the dilemma: surgery? radiotherapy? radiosurgery?

When you're a whoosher, a diagnosis of the underlying cause of our symptom is a big accomplishment.  This is just one of many, many possible causes of pulsatile tinnitus.  When the diagnosis is relatively rare, the suggested treatment may not be so straightforward.  These patients need medical support - and emotional support - to help them make the best personal decision. 

All of these abstracts are available online, with links to the full reports available from major medical publications. Share them with your doctors!  

Sources:

"Contemporary Management of Jugular Paragangliomas," Wanna GB, Sweeney AD, Haynes DS, Carlson ML, Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2015 Apr;48(2):331-341. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2014.12.007.

"Observation and partial targeted surgery in the management of tympano-jugular paraganglioma: a contribution to the multioptional treatment," Mazzoni A, Zanoletti E. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2015 Mar 31, Otolaryngology, University Hospital, Padua, Italy.

"Paragangliomas of the Head and Neck: A Pictorial Essay," Jerry C. Lee, MD, Ajay Malhotra, MD, Henry Wang, MD, PhD, Per-Lennart Westesson, MD, PhD, DDS, Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology Department of Imaging Sciences University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 2007.

"Evolving Concepts in the Management of Jugular Paraganglioma: A Comparison of Radiotherapy and Surgery in 88 Cases," Patrice Tran Ba Huy, M.D., Romain Kania, M.D., Michèle Duet, M.D., Bernadette Dessard-Diana, M.D., Jean-Jacques Mazeron, M.D., and Rania Benhamed, M.D., Skull Base. 2009 Jan; 19(1): 83–91.