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Aspergilloma of the middle ear mimicking necrotising otitis externa: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2010

P Rainsbury ,
A Mitchell-Innes ,
H Wilson  and
M Prior
P Rainsbury*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK
A Mitchell-Innes
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK
H Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK
M Prior
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Paul Rainsbury, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8DL, UK. E-mail: paul.rainsbury@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective:

We report a case of a patient who presented with otalgia and facial nerve palsy secondary to an aspergilloma of the middle ear.

Case report:

A 72-year-old, diabetic man presented to the ENT department with a history of worsening right-sided otalgia, aural discharge and hearing loss, associated with a right-sided facial weakness. This was assumed to be secondary to malignant otitis externa, and treatment was commenced. Imaging showed soft tissue within the middle ear and no bony erosion. Surgical exploration and biopsy revealed an aspergilloma of the middle ear. The pre- and post-operative management, as well as treatment strategies, are discussed.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of an aspergilloma of the middle ear with associated facial palsy. Readers are asked to consider this rare diagnosis in patients with suspected malignant otitis externa not responding to standard treatment.

Keywords

AspergillosisEar, MiddleFacial Nerve Diseases
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 11 , November 2010 , pp. 1209 - 1211
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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