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The pathophysiology of otitic hydrocephalus.

The pathophysiology of otitic hydrocephalus remains controversial. It has been argued that involvement of the superior sagittal sinus, by, at least, a mural thrombus is a necessary component of this disease. We present a case of otitic hydrocephalus where on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) normal luminal and mural flow within the superior sagittal sinus is demonstrated. The presence of thrombus in the lateral venous sinus alone appears sufficient in this case to impede venous drainage of the intracranial contents into the neck and produce a rise in the cerebral venous pressure and a subsequent increase in the CSF pressure. The presence of a superior sagittal sinus mural thrombus is not required.

Child↗

Multiple myeloma presenting with external ear canal mass.

The manifestations of multiple myeloma are protean and related to bony osteolytic lesions, and to medullar and renal insufficiency. We report a patient who presented with otalgia as the inaugural symptom of multiple myeloma. Local irradiation combined with systemic chemotherapy led to the disappearance of the temporal bone mass and the accompanying symptoms. To date, 24 months after the diagnosis, the patient is still in remission. The literature on otological involvement in multiple myeloma is reviewed. Symptoms are non-specific and include hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, facial paralysis, and otalgia. The diagnosis of multiple myeloma should be considered in the presence of a temporal bone mass.

Aged↗

Prospective study of tympanosclerosis developing after grommet insertion.

Grommets have been used as a treatment for middle-ear effusions since their introduction by Armstrong in 1954. However, it is now accepted that the presence of a grommet in a tympanic membrane is associated with the development of tympanosclerosis in that membrane. Furthermore, it has been shown that this is a progressive phenomenon and that the incidence increases with time to as much as 65 per cent at 3 to 4 years after grommet insertion (Mawson and Fagan, 1972; Tos and Poulsen, 1976). Initially it was suggested that the development of tympanosclerosis might be due to the middle ear disease rather than to the grommet (McKinnon, 1971). However, most recent studies have found that, in bilateral cases of effusion, tympanosclerosis develops more frequently in ears with a grommet than in those without (Brown, Richards and Ambegaokar, 1978; Lildholt, 1979). This prospective study was designed to show the development of tympanosclerosis in the tympanic membrane of children treated for bilateral middle-ear effusions and to elicit any factors from the clinical history and operative technique which might be associated with the pathogenesis of the complication.

Child↗

Unusual presentation of neurilemmoma in the cerebellopontine angle.

An unusual presentation of a neurilemmoma in the cerebellopontine (CP) angle is reported. The tumour was localised in the CP angle and the case presented with post-auricular swelling and erosion of the squamous part of temporal bone without involvement of the auditory or other cranial nerves.

Adult↗

[The red tympanic membrane].

An otoscopic red tympanic membrane is for the examiner a challenge. A short directed history, as well as a few functional examinations associated to a systematic otoscopy allow in most cases to make the otological diagnosis. The differential diagnosis for a red tympanic membrane is very large, including malformations, traumas, infections, and even tumors and other degenerative pathologies. The first diagnosis to think about is an infectious disease. On the other side, there are rare pathologies which, even for experienced examiners are quite seldom.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Chronic bilateral otomycosis caused by Aspergillus niger.

Aspergillus niger, an opportunistic filamentous fungus, was identified as the cause of chronic bilateral otomycosis in a 46-year-old female patient who was unresponsive to different drugs. The patient showed signs of erythema, otalgia, itching, otorrhoea and presence of greyish black coloured mass in both the ear canals. The direct microscopical examination of the ear debris in potassium hydroxide preparations, Giemsa, phase contrast and Gram revealed many thin, branched septate hyphae, condia and conidiophores morphologically indistinguishable from Aspergillus spp. The histopathological section of the ear wax mass by haematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff techniques also showed similar fungal elements. The patient responded to 1% solution of mercurochrome. The use of mercurochrome in developing countries like India may be recommended to treat the fungal otitis in patients. We also emphasize that 'Narayan' stain should be routinely employed by microbiology and public health laboratories to study the morphology of pathogenic fungi.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

Post-tonsillectomy pain: a prospective, randomised and double-blinded study to compare an ultrasonically activated scalpel technique with the blunt dissection technique.

Thirty-two patients participated in a study to compare the use of an ultrasonically activated scalpel (Harmonic scalpel) for tonsillectomy on one side and a blunt dissection tonsillectomy on the other. Pain scores at rest and on swallowing expressed as the area under curves (AUC) during the 10 h after surgery, intra-operative blood loss and the need for electrocoagulation for haemostasis were significantly higher on the blunt dissection side than on the Harmonic scalpel side (p < 0.05). However, pain scores expressed as AUC at rest, on swallowing, the day's least, average and worst levels of pain, and the day's worst otalgia during the second week after surgery were significantly higher on the Harmonic scalpel side than on the blunt dissection side. In conclusion, we found that Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy was associated with decreased severity in pharyngeal pain on the day of the operation but increased pharyngeal pain and otalgia during the second postoperative week.

Adolescent↗

The effect of tonsillectomy on eustachian tube function.

A two-part study was designed to investigate the effect of tonsillectomy on eustachian tube function and to identify if any change is related to postoperative pain. Middle ear pressure was measured by tympanometry and results were classified as type A (+50 daPa to -99 daPa), type B (flat) or type C (-100 daPa to -350 daPa). Thirty-one patients with type A tympanograms, undergoing tonsillectomy enrolled in study A. Patients had tympanometry the next day and filled in a questionnaire incorporating visual analogue pain scores. In study B, 30 patients underwent a similar protocol and were followed up at 1 week tympanometry and a questionnaire. A control group of 26 patients undergoing appendicectomy was recruited. Follow-up was available on 23 patients from study B. Combining A and B, on the first postoperative day 39% of patients developed type C tympanograms. No member of the control group developed any change in middle ear pressure. There was no significant relationship between pain scores for throat pain or otalgia and the development of negative middle ear pressure. By day 7 all patients had type A tympanograms. Otalgia was a delayed symptom significantly associated with increased throat pain. Transient negative middle ear pressure commonly occurs following tonsillectomy.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

Relationship between juvenile bruxing and craniomandibular dysfunction.

A longitudinal study was conducted over 5 years to investigate the relationship between juvenile bruxing and craniomandibular disorders. A total of 150 bruxers between the ages of 6 and 9 years were examined for oral parafunctions and TMJ symptoms. Of these, 126 were re-examined for the same signs and symptoms after 5 years. The results showed that only 17 individuals had retained their bruxing habit. In common with other studies, we found that symptoms reduced with age. It was concluded that juvenile bruxing was a self-limiting condition which does not progress to adult bruxism and which appeared to be unrelated to TMJ symptoms.

Aging↗

Catamenial synkinetic retroauricular pain.

A report of two female patients with persistent unilateral retroauricular pain and cranial synkinesis following Bell's palsy. Pain occurred during menses in the first patient and was exacerbated by menses in the second patient. Retroauricular pain often precedes or follows Bell's palsy. Pain normally disappears within 2 weeks from the onset of paralysis. Neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography of the head and cranial electrophysiological testing were performed. The first patient had severe right retroauricular pain during her menses for several years following Bell's palsy. Her brain MRI showed non-specific T2 white matter hyperintensities. On her electromyogram she had facial synkinesis with tonic motor unit discharges on her right orbicularis oris and mentalis muscles during sustained eye closure. The second patient reported hearing a sound over her left ear when she blinked or protruded her jaw after Bell's palsy. She had ipsilateral retroauricular pain, exacerbated during menses. Her brain MRI was normal. Electromyogram showed facial synkinesis. Chronic retroauricular pain, occurring or exacerbated during menses, may be a rare complication of Bell's palsy. It can be associated with facial subclinical synkinetic dystonia and trigemino-facial synkinesis.

Adult↗

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania presenting as otalgia with a sensation of external acoustic meatus obstruction: two cases and a pathophysiologic hypothesis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe two cases of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania manifested by otalgia with a sensation of external acoustic meatus obstruction and to suggest that the trigeminal-autonomic reflex is a mechanism for the sensation of ear blockage. BACKGROUND: Maximum pain in chronic paroxysmal hemicrania is most often in the ocular, temporal, maxillary, and frontal regions. It is less often located in the nuchal, occipital, and retro-orbital areas. Review of the literature on chronic paroxysmal hemicrania found no reports of pain primarily localized to the ear and associated with a sensation of external acoustic meatus obstruction. METHODS: The history, physical examination, imaging studies, and successful treatment plan in two patients with otalgia and ear fullness and a subsequent diagnosis of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania are summarized. RESULTS: The first patient was a 42-year-old woman with a 10-year history of unilateral, severe, paroxysmal otalgia occurring five times a day with a duration of 2 to 60 minutes. During an attack, the ear became erythematous and the external acoustic meatus felt obstructed. There were no other associated autonomic signs. The second patient was a 49-year-old woman with a 3-year history of unilateral, severe, paroxysmal otalgia occurring 4 to 15 times a day with a duration of 3 to 10 minutes. During an attack, her ear felt obstructed, and she noted ipsilateral eyelid edema and ptosis. Both patients quickly became pain-free after taking indomethacin and required its continued use to prevent headache recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania may be manifested by otalgia with a sensation of external ear obstruction. When the otalgia is paroxysmal, unilateral, severe, frequent, and associated with autonomic signs, one should consider the diagnosis of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, especially because of the prompt response to indomethacin. The most important feature to consider when making the diagnosis of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania is the frequent periodicity of discrete, brief attacks of unilateral cephalgia separated by pain-free intervals. It is hypothesized that the sensation of ear obstruction in these patients is due to swelling of the external acoustic meatus mediated through increased blood flow by the trigeminal-autonomic reflex.

Adult↗

[Etiology and diagnosis of otalgia].

Otalgia is the sensation of pain in the ear, while referred otalgia is pain felt in the ear but originating from a nonotologic source. Ear pain is a diagnostic problem when examination of the ear shows no pathology. Pain in the ear can be caused by inflammation of the external meatus or the middle ear. Nonotogenic otalgia may be due to referred or reflex pain, neuralgia, or to a psychogenic problem. Otalgia may be referred also from primary carcinoma of the head and neck. A thorough understanding of the anatomy of the head and neck is required. Referred pain is due to irritative lesions involving the fifth, ninth, or tenth cranial nerves and spinal nerves C2 and C3. If pathologic problems in the area supplied by these nerves have been ruled out, the neuralgia should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Psychogenic factors must be identified and treated before any type of surgical therapy is recommended. A basic knowledge of neuroanatomy, with emphasis on the cranial nerves, their course, distribution, and function, is also necessary. The complexity of this field may sometimes require the treating physician to call for consultations from colleagues in the fields of oral surgery, neurology, or neurosurgery. The therapy depends of the causes of the ear-ache.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Otalgia as the sole presenting manifestation of subdural hematoma.

A case is reported of a 57-year-old man with sudden development of nontraumatic left-sided otalgia without any localizing features on otolaryngologic or neurologic examinations. The condition persisted despite empirical antibiotic therapy and simple analgesics. A subsequent computed tomography of the head revealed a subacute left frontoparietal subdural hematoma that was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosurgical drainage was performed with complete symptom resolution. This case report illustrates a possible rare sole presenting manifestation of subdural hematoma. This condition should be considered early in cases of otalgia if no causes are deduced after extensive otolaryngologic evaluation.

Drainage↗

Elongated styloid process (Eagle's syndrome): a clinical study.

PURPOSE: Elongated styloid process can be a source of craniofacial and cervical pain and remains a diagnostic challenge to many. The aim of the study was to determine the symptomatology and various criteria for the diagnosis of an elongated styloid process and its management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our clinical study consisted of 58 patients with elongated styloid process who had symptoms of vague cervicofacial pain and presented to our department during a period of 10 years. Special emphasis is given to palpation of the tonsillar fossa, lidocaine infiltration test, and orthopantomography. RESULTS: Minimal complications and zero incidence of deep neck infection were noted. CONCLUSIONS: All of the patients were managed surgically through the intraoral approach, which was found to be a safe procedure.

Adolescent↗