Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2010 Mar;53(3):175-178. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.3.175.

A Case of Spontaneous Temporomandibular Joint Herniation into the External Auditory Canal

• Ha SH
• Oh JI
• Park MI
• Kim CW

• KMID: 1455704
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.3.175

Abstract

Bony defects of the external auditory canal (EAC) may arise from a tumor, infection, inflammation, trauma, complications from ear surgery, or congenital disease. Congenital bony defects of the EAC are known as a patent Huschke's foramen. Here, we describe a 76-year-old male patient who presented an otalgia in his right ear. Physical examination revealed a dome shaped swelling of the anterior EAC wall, which repeated swelling and retraction as the patient's mouth closed and opened. Computed tomography revealed a bony defect of the anterior EAC wall. We believe that the patent Huschke's foramen allowed spontaneous herniation of the temporomandibular joint into the EAC.

Keyword

Huschke's foramen; External auditory canal; Temporomandibular joint; Otalgia

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aminocaproic Acids
Ear
Ear Canal
Earache
Humans
Inflammation
Male
Mouth
Physical Examination
Temporomandibular Joint
Aminocaproic Acids