Q. Is unilateral tinnitus a symptom of cancer?
Hi doctor,
I have been experiencing unilateral tinnitus, but my hearing is normal. It had been one and half days, and all I could hear was a tiny buzz. I recently read that tinnitus has a lot of alarming danger concerns. Is it typical for people with unilateral tinnitus to have a brain tumor or cancer?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. The most prevalent cause of unilateral tinnitus is benign tumors, not cancers. Cancers are rare. I recommend you do magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast for both temporal bones to discover any brain masses.
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply. Is surgery necessary for benign masses? What would the recovery process look like?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. Benign masses, such as acoustic neuroma (a non-cancerous tumor on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain), are treated with a gamma knife, which is not an open surgery but rather a gamma ray surgery, similar to laser surgery. It is a closed operation that does not include any open wounds or bleeding.
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply. I am wondering if my TMJ had caused my tinnitus. My hearing balance has always been good, so I doubt this is the cause. Also, if I had a brain tumor, would I have some hearing loss from tinnitus by now? As previously said, I have been experiencing tinnitus for the past one and half weeks. Therefore, I might have experienced additional symptoms if I had a brain tumor.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. I did not confirm the presence of any brain mass in you. I suggested an imaging examination to rule out or confirm the presence of brain masses. TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues can be a reason, but you should have experienced TMJ discomfort and tenderness while chewing or biting on the meal. Even though you can hear well, you may have a hearing loss that only manifests as tinnitus. Small brain masses near the cochlear nerve only cause vertigo when they are big, whereas, in the early stages, the main symptom is tinnitus. Thus pure tone audiometry (the measurement of an individual's hearing sensitivity for calibrated pure tones) is also necessary to assess the status of your cochlear nerves.
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply. I grind my teeth and only get jaw pain when I clench them. Also, when I open my mouth or chew gum for roughly 30 to 40 minutes. I consulted an ENT specialist, underwent a hearing test, and was informed that my hearing was good. So dizziness and vertigo are still possible. I am not assuming any brain mass, but as you mentioned, those are still very rare. Is it possible that with unilateral tinnitus, nothing will show up on my MRI, and I will continue to live with this sound?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. Yes, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can show that everything is fine, and if the tinnitus is idiopathic (without a known hazardous cause), you will have to get used to the sound. An intratympanic corticosteroid (used to treat cochleovestibular symptoms of inner ear disease, such as Meniere's disease or idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss) is also available for idiopathic tinnitus.
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