Brain Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Gender Differences in Tinnitus Patients.

BACKGROUND: Increased metabolism in the left auditory cortex has been reported in tinnitus patients. However, gender difference has not been addressed.

PURPOSE: To assess the differences in Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) results between the genders in tinnitus patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective cohort.

STUDY SAMPLE: Included were patients referred to our clinic between January 2011 and August 2013 who complained of tinnitus and underwent fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET to assess brain metabolism.

DATA ANALYSIS: Univariate and multivariate nominal logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between upper temporal gyrus (UTG; right and left) and gender.

RESULTS: Included were 140 patients (87 males) with an average age of 52.5 yr (median = 53.1). Bilateral tinnitus was found in 85 patients (60.7%), left sided in 30 (21.4%), and right sided in 21(15%). Increased uptake in the UTG was found in 60% of the patients on either side. Males had a statistically significant increased uptake in the UTG in those with unilateral tinnitus and in the entire population.

CONCLUSIONS: We present the largest study reported so far on tinnitus patients who have undergone FDG-PET-CT. We found a statistically significant difference between the genders in FDG uptake by the UTG. Further investigations should be undertaken to reveal the etiologies for these differences and to assess different therapeutic protocols according to gender.