Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2016 Apr;59(4):327-331. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.4.327.

A Case of Perilymphatic Fistula Misdiagnosed as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

• Kim TH
• Chang SO
• Kim MB

• KMID: 2162269
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.4.327

Abstract

Perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is an uncommon disease characterized by abnormal leakage of the perilymph from the inner ear into the middle ear. The symptoms of PLF include sudden-onset hearing loss, tinnitus, ear fullness, and vertigo resulting from inner-ear trauma, stapedial surgery or barotrauma such as valsalva, and nose blowing. As nystagmus can be induced by the affected-ear in down position, benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV) should be considered for differential diagnosis. About 40-50% of PLF patients have experienced spontaneous healing, but surgical repair should be considered when the hearing symptom and dizziness are not alleviated or are aggravated within a few days. Reported herein, with a review of the relevant literature, is a case of PLF initially misdiagnosed as BPPV but where successful fistula repair was finally achieved.

Keyword

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; Direction changing nystagmus; Perilymphatic fistula

MeSH Terms

Barotrauma
Diagnosis, Differential
Dizziness
Ear
Ear, Inner
Ear, Middle
Fistula*
Hearing
Hearing Loss
Humans
Nose
Perilymph
Tinnitus
Vertigo*