Abstract
We present a case involving a 36-year old man who had a feeling that his right ear was obstructed and who had associated conductive hearing loss that was exacerbated by nose blowing. On otoscopy, a soft-tissue swelling was seen in the posterosuperior aspect of the right external auditory canal. Computed tomography revealed the presence of hyperaerated mastoid air cells and air-containing cavicy connected with the enlarged mastoid air cells, narrowing the external auditory canal. A radiographic diagnosis of mastoid pneumocele with secondary pneumatocele was made. A novel hypothesis is presented, that high nasal pressures play an important role in the progressive formation of pneumocele/pneumatocele as a result of air invasion via the eustachian tube. Symptoms disappeared after a myringotomy was placed. Computed tomography performed 6 months later showed an impressive remodeling of the temporal bone.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3-5 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Ear, Nose and Throat Journal |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 2010 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- mastoid
- pneumocele
- pneumatocele
- auditory
- canal
- obstruction
- nose
- blowing