Leech infestation in otolaryngology is sporadically seen in remote area of tropical countries, but the cases are usually not scientifically reported. We are reporting an unusual case of a land leech removal from external auditory canal (EAC)
Earache

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although otalgia is usually associated with ear problems, it may also originate outside the ear. We therefore assessed the clinical characteristics of patients with otalgia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 294 patients who presented with otalgia. We assessed differences in otalgia between adults and children, differences in otogenic vs. referred otalgia between adults and children, differences between men and women. RESULTS: Of the 294 patients, 208 (70.7%) had otogenic otalgia and 86 (29.3%) had referred otalgia. Hearing disturbance and otorrhea were significantly more common in otogenic otalgia, whereas rhinorrhea, sore throat, and postnasal drip were significantly more common in referred otalgia. Children were more likely to have otogenic otalgia than adults. The proportion of patients with referred otalgia was significantly higher in adults than in children (p<0.05). Otogenic otalgia was more common in men, whereas referred otalgia was more common in women. Among patients with referred otalgia, neuralgia was significantly more frequent in women than in men (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Otogenic otalgia was more frequent in men than in women and in children than in adults, whereas referred otalgia was more frequent in women and adults, indicating that types of otalgia were dependent on age and gender.
Adult ; Child ; Ear ; Earache* ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Pharyngitis

OBJECTIVE: To present an unusual cause of pulsatile tinnitus, presenting in a young adult suffering from chronic recurrent foul-smelling discharge from the same ear.
METHODS:
Design: Case Report
Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital
Patient: One
RESULTS: A 24 year-old woman presented with pulsatile tinnitus on a background of chronic recurrent foul-smelling discharge. Clinico-radiologic findings seemed consistent with a glomus tympanicum coexisting with chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma. She underwent tympanomastoidectomy with excision of the mass. Histopathologic evaluation revealed the mass to be granulation tissue.
CONCLUSION: Pulsatile tinnitus is rarely associated with chronic middle ear infection. Granulation tissue arising at the promontory may mimic glomus tumors when accompanied with this symptom. Despite this revelation, it would still be prudent to prepare for a possible glomus tumor intraoperatively so that profuse bleeding and complications may be avoided.

Otalgia is a common symptom with diverse causes due to its complex sensory innervations. It can be broadly classified into two groups. Primary (otogenic) otalgia is defined as pain resulting from ear diseases and secondary (referred) otalgia arises from pathologic processes and structures other than the ear. Its workup is complex and no simple algorithm exists. In this review, authors collected and analyzed articles on otalgia and described anatomical considerations and clinical evaluation of otalgia, and outlined various causes and treatment options for primary and referred otalgia.
Ear ; Ear Diseases ; Earache ; Facial Pain ; Pathologic Processes

Herniation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) into the external auditory canal (EAC) is known to be associated with a defect of the anterior wall of the EAC. Spontaneous herniation of TMJ into EAC is very rare and can induce clicking tinnitus, conductive hearing loss, otalgia, otorrhea and even no symptom. Here we report a very interesting case of spontaneous TMJ herniation, which resulted in severe and annoying clicky tinnitus and otalgia. There was no response to the initial conservative management, so surgical correction of TMJ herniation using titanium mesh was performed. After the surgery, the annoying clicky tinnitus completely disappeared. This study suggests that tinnitus caused by TMJ herniation be considered as another type of surgically curable objective tinnitus.
Ear Canal ; Earache ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Temporomandibular Joint* ; Tinnitus* ; Titanium*

Malignant otitis externa (MOE) originates as inflammation of the epidermis in the external auditory canal, and spreads to the surrounding structures and neck, leading to abscess formation. MOE is associated with an immunosuppressive condition and diabetes. Patients with MOE suffer from otalgia, otorrhea and hearing loss. According to the literature, surgery to the temporomandibular joint is controversial as the treatment of choice.
Abscess ; Ear Canal ; Earache ; Epidermis ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Neck ; Otitis ; Otitis Externa ; Temporomandibular Joint

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is defined as a granulomatous inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract due to a systemic vasculitis. Facial nerve palsy may occur during the course of any granulomatous or vasculitis disease. But very few cases have been reported in which facial nerve palsy is the presenting feature of WG. We recently experienced an interesting case of WG presenting as acute middle ear infection and subsequent bilateral facial palsy.
Ear, Middle ; Earache ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Inflammation ; Paralysis ; Respiratory System ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis ; Wegener Granulomatosis

A case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, though more often seen at the ENT clinic because of the patients' concern with symptoms in the ear, was seen and treated at the Dermatologic Clinic of Chosun University. A 29 year old male patient presented earache, pinhead to rice sized erythematous vesicular eruption on the external auditory canal, auricle and superior auricular area, and facial paralysis, all involving the right side of the face, duration of which were 7 days, 5 days and 1 day respectiveIy. High doses of prednisolone alone made it possible to remit the otalgia, control the vesicular eruption and resolute the facial paralysis almost completely within 18 days in the order of their appearance, indicating that this is one of the more easily treated diseases for dermatologists, The 22 cases of this syndrome reported in Korean literature were reviewed and the conceptual development of its pathogenesis and definition was described.
Adult ; Ear ; Ear Canal ; Earache ; Facial Paralysis ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Humans ; Male ; Prednisolone

BACKGROUND: Because of recent concern about occurrence of otomycosis in otolaryngologic practice, we studied them. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and mycological features of otomycosis. METHOD: We evaluated the clinical and mycological aspects of otomycosis in 38 patients from March 1996 to February 1998 in Dongguk University Hospital. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Otomycosis showed high incidence in the twenties (23.7%). The ratio of male to female patient was 1:1.5. The seasonal prevalence was highest in autumn. Most common symptoms were otorrhea (39.4%) followed by itching, obstruction sensation, otalgia, and hearing disturbance. The common causative organisms of otomycosis were Aspergillus(A.) niger (36.8%) followed by A. terreus (26.3%), A. flavus (21.1%), A. fumigatus (7.9%), Candida albicans (5.3%), and Mucor sp. (2.6%).
Candida albicans ; Earache ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mucor ; Niger ; Otomycosis* ; Prevalence ; Pruritus ; Seasons ; Sensation

Herein, we report an unusual case of large tonsillolith presented with acute otalgia. Since the tonsils and tonsillar fossa are supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, any irritation or pain can be referred to the ear along the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal (Jacobson's) nerve. Also, it is worth re-emphasizing that normal otoscopy must be followed by inspection of the nasal cavities, oral cavity, and oropharynx, with particular note given to the floor of mouth, teeth, tongue, and tonsils because the identification of a causative etiology is necessary to successfully treat referred otalgia.
Ear ; Earache ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve ; Mouth ; Mouth Floor ; Nasal Cavity ; Oropharynx ; Otoscopy ; Palatine Tonsil ; Tongue ; Tooth