About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 5/8/2007 Subject: Loud booming noise is left ear
Question Pt (my wife) is 73 y.o. in good health; had cervical fusion over 10 years ago. Recently she has developed loud booming noise in left lear; momementarily stops when she turns head and neck to the left. Local ENT man says it is tinnitus. Had MRI 2 years ago. Appreciate your intput. K. Wong, M.D. Bakersfield, CA.
Answer Hi Dr. Wong,
Thanks for your question. If the sound is abated by turning the head, it may be a vascular tinnitus. If the booming sound seems to pulsate, that may indicate a vascular cause as well. She should be seen by an ENT physician--if there is a mass behind the TM then a CT should be ordered--if nothing is seen give consideration to a repeat MRI with MRA/MRV sequences. Hope this helps!
