Yonsei Med J.  2005 Feb;46(1):161-165. 10.3349/ymj.2005.46.1.161.

A Case of Tympanogenic Labyrinthitis Complicated by Acute Otitis Media

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. chulsavio@hanmail.net
  • 2Department of Otolaryngology, Inje Medical School, Ilsan Pak Hospital, Korea.
  • 3Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs in the management of otitis media has significantly reduced the incidence of labyrinthitis nowadays. Cases of tympanogenic labyrinthitis following acute otitis media have rarely been reported in recent literature on otolaryngology. We report an unusual case of tympanogenic labyrinthitis that presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) following acute otitis media in an adult who had no previous otological complaints. An audiogram revealed SNHL with pure tone threshold of 43.7 dB in the left ear. MRI was helpful to identify the inflammatory change of the membranous labyrinth. The patient's hearing returned to normal after treatment. The definite diagnosis of serous labyrinthitis was established retrospectively.

Keyword

Labyrinthitis; acute otitis media

MeSH Terms

Acute Disease
Adult
Audiometry, Pure-Tone
Female
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy
Humans
Labyrinthitis/*complications/therapy
Otitis Media, Suppurative/*complications/therapy
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Tympanic Membrane

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Pure tone audiogram revealed a sensorineural hearing loss with pure tone threshold of 43.7 dB in the left ear on admission day.

  • Fig. 2 Contrast-enhanced axial-T1 weighted images of MRI demonstrated that faint enhancement of basal turn of cochlea, vestibule, semicircular canals and intense enhancement of mastoid in the left side. These MRI findings are suggestive of otitis media with mastoiditis and tympanogenic labyrinthitis.

  • Fig. 3 Pure tone audiogram revealed an improvement with pure tone threshold 25 dB in the left ear at 9th day following steroid treatment.

  • Fig. 4 Hearing returned to normal at all frequencies except for 8 kHz, 1 month after initial steroid treatment.


Reference

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