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David J. Eisenman, MD

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Administrative Title:

Vice Chair

Additional Title:

Vice Chairman; Director of Division of Otology and Neurotology

Location:

James T. Frenkil Building, 16 S. Eutaw Street 500

Phone (Primary):

667-214-2369

Fax:

410-328-5827

Education and Training

  • Columbia College, Columbia University, NY, NY; BA, Classics, 1987
  • Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT; MD, 1992
  • New York Hospital- Cornell Medical Center, NY, NY; Internship and Residency, General Surgery, 1992-1994.
  • Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, NY, NY. Residency, Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, 1994-1998.
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Fellowship, Otology, Neurotology- Skull Base Surgery, 1998-2000.

Biosketch

Dr. Eisenman specializes in Otology, Neurotology and lateral Skull Base surgery. This field encompasses all disease of the ear and lateral skull base, both medical and surgical. We work closely with our colleagues in Neurosurgery on approaches to removal of complex skull base tumors, including but not limited to acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannoma), meningioma, paraganglioma (glomus tumors) and other tumors of the cerebellopontine angle, jugular foramen and lateral skull base. We also collaborate closely with colleagues in Radiation Oncology for function preserving highly focused radiation treatment of tumors in situations not suitable for surgery. Our close relationship with the University of Maryland's cutting edge proton beam center for radiation has facilitated indivdualized and highly precise treatment of all types of lateral skull base tumors.

In addition to this, Dr. Eisenman treats all general ear diseases, including all types of hearing loss, vertigo and facial nerve disorders. Some other procedures in which he specializes include cochlear implants, stapedectomy, bone conduction implants, removal of cholesteatoma and eardrum repair. 

Dr. Eisenman has done pioneering research in the diagnosis and treatment of pulsatile tinnitus. His research on sigmoid sinus wall anomalies, including diverticulum and dehiscence, have led to greater understanding of the nature of these disorders- including their relationship to idiopathic intracranial hypertension and transverse sinus stenosis- proper diagnostic evaluation, and surgical and non-surgical management. His ongoing research interests lie in further understanding the nature of this problem and optimizing treatment protocols. Additionally, he is part of a multidisciplinary team working on development of a novel prosthesis for treatment of conductive hearing loss due to disruption of the middle ear bones (ossicles).

Research/Clinical Keywords

Pulsatile tinnitus, sigmoid sinus diverticulum and dehiscence (sigmoid sinus wall anomalies), ossicular chain reconstruction, conductive hearing loss, 3D-printing, acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma), stapedectomy and otosclerosis, cochlear implants, cholesteatoma, tympanic membrane perforation.

Highlighted Publications

1.     Eisenman DJ, Arts HA. Effectiveness of Treatment for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.  Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;126: 1161-4.

2.     Eisenman DJ, Speers R, Telian SA. Labyrinthectomy versus Vestibular Neurectomy: Long-Term Physiologic and Clinical Outcomes. Otol Neurotol 2001;22: 539-48.

3.     Eisenman DJ, Ashbaugh C, Zwolan T, Arts HA, Telian SA. Implantation of the malformed cochlea. Otol Neurotol 2001;22: 834-41.

4.     Eisenman DJ.  Sinus Wall Reconstruction for Sigmoid Sinus Diverticulum and Dehiscence:  A standardized surgical procedure for a range of radiographic findings.  Otol Neurotol,  2011;32:1116-9.

5.     Khan A, Lapin A and Eisenman DJ. Use of titanium mesh for middle cranial fossa skull base reconstruction. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2014,75:104-9.

6.     Harvey RS, Hertzano, R, Kelman, S and Eisenman DJ.  Pulse-synchronous tinnitus and sigmoid sinus wall anomalies: Descriptive epidemiology and the idiopathic intracranial hypertension population. Otol Neurotol, 2014;35:5-17.

7.     Raghavan P, Serulle Y, Gandhi D, Morales R, Quinn K, Angster K, Hertzano R, and Eisenman D. (2015) Postoperative imaging findings following sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction for pulse synchronous tinnitus. AJNR Oct. 2015, 10.3174/ajnr.A4511.

8. Eisenman DJ, Raghavan P, Hertzano R, Morales RM. Evaluation and treatment of pulsatile tinnitus associated with sigmoid sinus wall anomalies. Laryngoscope 2018 Oct;128 Suppl 2:S1-S13. doi: 10.1002/lary.27218. Epub 2018 May 14. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.27218

9. Eisenman DJ. Rereading Arrowsmith in the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA. 2020;324(4):319–320. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2767891

10. Kline NL, Angster K, Archer E, Raghavan P, Morales RE, Mathews MK, Eisenman DJ. Association of pulse synchronous tinnitus and sigmoid sinus wall abnormalities in

patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Am J Otolaryngol. 2020 Nov-Dec;41(6):102675.   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196070920303690?via%3Dihub 

11. Dreizin D, Sakai O, Champ K, Gandhi D, Aarabi B, Nam AJ, Morales RE, Eisenman DJ. CT of skull base fractures: classification systems, complications, and management. Radiographics. 2021 May-Jun;41(3):762-782. 

12. Bhatnagar K, Patel L, Gourishetti S, Raghavan P, Eisenman DJ. Imaging Characteristics of Sigmoid Sinus Wall Anomalies, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, and Spontaneous CSF Leaks. Otol Neurotol. 2021 Jul 1;42(6):945-951.

13. Kline NL, Bhatnagar K, Eisenman DJ, Taylor RJ. Survival outcomes of lateral skull base tumors following temporal bone resection. Head Neck. 2021 Aug;43(8):2414-2422. 

14. Williams AP, Gourishetti SC, Flaherty MA, Eisenman DJ. Anxiety, Depression, and Symptom Severity in Patients with Pulsatile and Non-Pulsatile Tinnitus. Laryngoscope. 2022 Jun 2. doi: 10.1002/lary.30238. Epub ahead of print. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.30238

 

Research Interests

1. Pulsatile tinnitus

2. Ossicular chain reconstruction

3. Tinnitus habituation therapy

Clinical Specialty Details

Otology- Neurotology, Skull Base Surgery

Awards and Affiliations

  • 1988: Logan-Clendening Traveling Fellowship for Research in the History of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • 1989: John F. Fulton Memorial Award for Research in the History of Medicine, YaleUniversitySchool of Medicine.
  • 2006: Outstanding Teaching Award, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, University of Maryland.
  • 2006: Eye of the Tiger Award (legislative advocacy), AmericanAcademy of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery.
  • 2007: Outstanding Teaching Award, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, University of Maryland.
  • Journal reviewer: Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, Otology & Neurotology, The Neurologist, Journal of Biomechanics.
  • American Neurotology Society, Fellow. 
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, Fellow.
  • President, Maryland Society of Otolaryngology, 2007-2008.
  • Secretary-Treasurer, Maryland Society of Otolaryngology- 2006-2007.
  • Physician member, Maryland State Board of Examiners of Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers and Speech-Language Pathologists, 2005-2010.

Grants and Contracts

  • 2002-2003: United States Army, Advances in Medical Practice Grant; Initiation of Cochlear Implantation Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
  • May 2014- May 2015: Study of OTO-104 Given as a Single Intratympanic injection in subjects with unilateral Meniere's Disease Institute.
  • Dec. 2015- Dec. 2016: Assessment of Headache Types in Otolaryngology (The Migraine Study), Sponsor: Duke Clinical Research Institute

In the News

1. "Tone Deafness & American Idol," 'On Call': Fox 5 News at 10 (Television interview), Feb. 12, 2003.

2. “Hearing Loss and Vertigo,” Maryland Health Today (Public television health program, ½ hour show), July 26, 2005.

http://www.umm.edu/media/video/your_health_eisenman_hearing_loss.htm

3. Maryland Public Television, Direct Connection: Your Health, “Hearing Loss.” November 5, 2012. http://www.mpt.org/?q=node/15643; http://www.umm.edu/media/video/mht_hearing_loss_vertigo_eisenman%20_1.htm

4. The Costco Connection (magazine), “Ring cycle: Treating the pain of tinnitus.” Feb 2014; 29(2):47-8.

5. National Organization for Rare Disorders, “Tinnitus.” http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/210/viewFullReport, Full Report, Feb. 2014.

6. Men’s Health magazine, “12 Sounds You Don’t Want Your Body to Make.” Published online April 20, 2015, http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/weird-sounds-your-body-makes.

7. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Tinnitus. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/tinnitus/ . Updated semi-annually since 2014.

8. Smithsonian Magazine, “Doctors Are 3D Printing Ear Bones to Help with Hearing Loss.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/doctors-are-3d-printing-ear-bones-to-help-with-hearing-loss-180967560, Dec. 18, 2017. 

Community Service

Kemp Mill Synagogue, weekly advanced talmud class.

Links of Interest

www.whooshers.com

Video