Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2017 Jun;60(6):322-325. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.17300.

Left Side Otalgia Caused by Acute Myocardial Infarction

• Chung J
• Park JS
• Choi JW

• KMID: 2386116
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.17300

Abstract

Otalgia consists of primary otalgia associated with disorders of the ear itself and referred otalgia due to disorders of organs that share the same innervation with the ear. Disorders of the oral cavity and laryngopharynx served by the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves are common causes of referred otalgia. Chest pain from myocardial infarction spreads through the afferent pain pathway, especially through the sympathetic nerves in the cardiac plexus and the phrenic nerve, resulting in a typical chest pain or referred pain in the left upper extremity. However, pain spreading through the vagus nerve can theoretically cause referred otalgia. This association between the heart and ear has not been widely acknowledged, even though a referred otalgia can occasionally be the only symptom of the tragic disease, myocardial infarction, and should be taken seriously. We report a patient who complained of left otalgia as the only symptom of myocardial infarction.

Keyword

Acute myocardial infarction; Earache; Primary otalgia; Referred otalgia; Vagus nerve

MeSH Terms

Cardiomyopathies
Chest Pain
Ear
Earache*
Heart
Humans
Hypopharynx
Infarction
Mouth
Myocardial Infarction*
Pain, Referred
Phrenic Nerve
Upper Extremity
Vagus Nerve