Which of the following is TRUE differential cause of referred otalgia?
Correct Answer: All of the above
Description: Otalgia can occur as a symptom of carcinoma on the base of tongue, pharynx or larynx. Ear receives nerve supply from 4 cranial nerves such as trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus; and from two branches of cervical plexus called C2 (lesser occipital) and C2 and C3 (greater auricular), pain maybe referred from these remote areas. Facial nerve refers pain to the external ear canal and post auricular region. Second and third cervical nerves refer pain to the postauricular and mastoid regions. Trigeminal referred otalgia arise from lesions involving the oral cavity and floor of mouth, teeth, mandible, temporomandibular joint, palate and pre auricular skin. Glossopharyngeal referred otalgia arise from the tonsil, base of the tongue, soft palate, nasopharynx, Eustachian tube and pharynx. Vagal referred otalgia arise from the hypopharynx, larynx and trachea. Differential causes of referred otalgia includes migraine, TMJ syndrome, cervical myalgia, fibromyalgia, dental abscess, head and neck malignancy (neoplasm of nasopharynx, sinus, tonsil, base of tongue, hypopharynx), temporal aeritis, inflammatory sinusitis, carotidynia, trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia and GERD.
Category:
ENT
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