Ear diagnoses

Background

Ear anatomy

Ear anatomy

Cross sectional ear anatomy (left).

Diagram showing signal processing in the auditory system.

Differential Diagnosis

Ear Diagnoses

External

• Auricular hematoma
• Auricular perichondritis
• Cholesteatoma
• Contact dermatitis
• Ear foreign body
• Herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt syndrome)
• Malignant otitis externa
• Otitis externa
• Otomycosis
• Tympanic membrane rupture
  • Otic barotrauma

Internal

• Acute otitis media
  • Bullous myringitis
• Chronic otitis media
• Mastoiditis

Inner/vestibular

• Labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis
• Meniere's disease
• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Evaluation

Ear Gallery

• 

  Mastoiditis with subperiostal abscess

• 

  Mild otitis externa

• 

  Severe otitis externa

• 

  Auricular hematoma

• 

  Auricular perichondritis]]

• 

  Smaller tympanic membrane rupture

• 

  Larger tympanic membrane rupture (acute)

• 

  Larger tympanic membrane rupture (chronic)

• 

  Acute otitis media