{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]],"date-time":"2026-07-21T02:06:43Z","timestamp":1784599603286,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,15]],"date-time":"2025-03-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741996800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Audiology Research"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the potential influence of abnormalities detected through carotid\u2013vertebral ultrasonography and brain MRI on pure-tone averages (PTAs) and the frequency and intensity of tinnitus. Methods: 423 participants with subjective tinnitus were enrolled in this investigation. All patients underwent carotid\u2013 vertebral ultrasonography, brain MRI, and pure-tone audiometry, including tinnitus matching. Results: The median values for tinnitus onset indicated chronic tinnitus in most cases. Regarding tinnitus location, left-sided symptoms (32%) and bilateral symptoms (44%) were the most prevalent. In analysing the effects of abnormalities detected by carotid\u2013vertebral ultrasonography on PTAs, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p = 0.0037). Specifically, individuals with intimal hyperplasia had significantly higher PTAs (p = 0.02), as did those with carotid artery plaques (p = 0.005). However, no significant differences in PTAs were noted in relation to carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.07). Similar trends emerged regarding tinnitus intensity (p = 0.013), with significantly higher values observed in the presence of any carotid\u2013vertebral ultrasonography abnormalities. In contrast, tinnitus frequencies were not significantly affected (p = 0.401). Regarding brain MRI findings, Fazekas scores of 2 (p = 0.02) and 3 (p = 0.0052) significantly influenced PTAs. For tinnitus intensity, Fazekas scores of 2 (p = 0.0027) and 3 (p = 0.0005), and the presence of acoustic neuromas (p = 0.019), significantly impacted the intensity values. However, tinnitus frequencies were not significantly (p = 0.36) influenced by brain MRI abnormalities. Conclusions: The findings of this study show that carotid\u2013vertebral ultrasonography and brain MRI abnormalities significantly influence PTAs and tinnitus intensities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/audiolres15020029","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,17]],"date-time":"2025-03-17T07:49:57Z","timestamp":1742197797000},"page":"29","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["The Influence of Carotid and Vertebral Doppler Ultrasonography and Brain MRI Abnormalities on Hearing Levels, Tinnitus Intensities and Frequencies"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4417-5166","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e1s","family":"Moln\u00e1r","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Protone Audio Kft., Opera Clinic, L\u00e1z\u00e1r u. 4, H-1065 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2508-4429","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vikt\u00f3ria","family":"Moln\u00e1r","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, Szigony u. 36, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Panayiota","family":"Mavrogeni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"T\u00f3th Ilona Health Service, Clinical Medical Institute, G\u00f6rgey Art\u00far t\u00e9r 8, H-1212 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefani","family":"Maihoub","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Maihoub ENT Clinic, Aliakmona Street 16, Cy-3117 Limassol, Cyprus"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.7874\/jao.2023.00416","article-title":"Recent Updates on Tinnitus Management","volume":"27","author":"Lee","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. 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