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
• Cerumen impaction
• 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

• 
  Cerumen impaction
• 
  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