Ear Abnormal Findings

Question 1

reddish-blue discoloration and swelling of pinna after exposure to extreme cold. vesicles or bullae may develop, the pt feels pain and tenderness, and ear necrosis may ensue

Answer 1

frostbite

Question 2

infection of outer ear, with severe pain on movement of pinna and tragus, redness and swelling of pina and canal, scanty purulent discharge, scaling, itching, fever, and enlarged tender regional lymph nodes. hearing is normal or slightly diminshed. more common in hot, humid weather. swimming causes canal to become waterlogged and swell; skinfolds are set up for infection, prevent by using rubbing alcohol or 2% acetic acid eardrops after every swim

Answer 2

otitis externa - swimmers ear

Question 3

facial remnant or leftover of the embryological branchial arch usually appears as a skin tag. these tags occur most often in the preauricular area in front of the tragus. when bilateral there is increased risk for renal anomalies

Answer 3

branchial remnant and ear deformity

Question 4

skull fracture of temporal bone causes cerebrospinal fluid to leak from ear canal and pool in concha when the patient is supine. cerebrospinal fluid feels oily and tests positive for glucose.

Answer 4

cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea

Question 5

inflammation of loose, subcutaneous connective tissue. it manifests as thickening and induration of pinna and distorted contours

Answer 5

cellulitis

Question 6

location is commonly behind lobule, in the postauricular fold. a nodule with central black punctum indicated blocked sebaceous gland. it is filled with waxy sebaceous material and is painful if it becomes infected. often are multiple

Answer 6

sebaceous cyst

Question 7

small, whitish-yellow, hard, non-tender nodules in or near helix or antihelix, contain greasy, chalky material of uric acid crystals and are a sign of gout

Answer 7

tophi

Question 8

painful nodules that develop on the rim of the helix as a result of repetitive mechanical pressure or environmental trauma. small, indurated, dull red, poorly defined, and very painful

Answer 8

chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis

Question 9

overgrowth of scar tissue, which invades original site of trauma. it is more common in dark-skinned people, although it also occurs in individuals with light skin. in the ear it is most common at lobule at the site of an ear piercing

Answer 9

keloid

Question 10

ulcerated crusted nodule with indurated base that fails to heal. bleeds intermittently must refer for biopsy. usually occurs on the superior rim of the pinna, which has the most sun exposure. may occur also in ear canal and exude chronic discharge that is either serosanguineous or bloody.

Answer 10

carcinoma

Question 11

trauma to the side of the head may lead to a basilar skill fracture involving the temporal bone. this shows as ecchymotic discoloration just posterior to the pinna and over the mastoid process.

Answer 11

battle sign

Question 12

_____ is produced or is impacted because canal is narrow and tortuous or as a result of poor cleaning method. may appear as round ball partially obscuring eardrum or totally occluding canal. even when canal is 90-95% blocked, hearing stays normal, when last 5-10% is totally occluded pt has sensation of ear fullness and sudden hearing loss

Answer 12

excessive cerumen

Question 13

severe swelling of canal, inflammation, tenderness.

Answer 13

otitis externa

Question 14

single, stony hard, rounded nodule that obscures the eardrum, nontender, overlying skin appears normal. attached to inner third of canal, benign.

Answer 14

osteoma

Question 15

more common than osteoma. small, hard, rounded nodules of hypertrophic bone, covered with normal epithelium. they arise near the eardrum but usually do not obstruct the view of the eardrum. are usually multiple and bilateral. may occur more frequently in cold-water swimmers. the condition needs no treatment, although it may cause an accumulation of cerumen, which blocks the canal.

Answer 15

exostosis

Question 16

painful, reddened, infected hair follicle. regional lymphadenopathy often accompanies

Answer 16

furuncle

Question 17

arises in canal from granulomatous or mucosal tissue, redder than surrounding skin and bleeds easily, bathed in foul purulent discharge, indicated chronic ear disease. benign but should be referred for excision.

Answer 17

polyp

Question 18

landmarks look more prominent and well defined. malleus handle looks shorter and more horizontal than normal. the short process is very prominent. light reflex is absent or distorted. the eardrum is dull and lusterless and does not move. these signs indicate negative pressure and middle ear vacuum caused by obstruction of Eustachian tube and serous otitis media.

Answer 18

retracted eardrum

Question 19

an amber yellow eardrum siggests serum in middle ear that transudates to relieve negative pressure form the blocked eustachian tube. air/fluid level may be present with fine black dividing line or air bubbles visible behind eardrum. symptoms are sensation of fullness, transient hearing loss, popping sound with swallowing. also called serous otitis media - glue ear

Answer 19

otitis media with effusion

Question 20

results when the middle ear is infected. absense of light reflex as a result of increasing middle ear pressure ia an early sign. redness and bulging are first noted in superior part of eardrum along with earaches and fever. fiery redness and bulging of entire eardrum, deep throbbing pain, fever, and transient hearing loss occur.

Answer 20

acute - purulent - otitis media

Question 21

if otitis media is not treated the eardrum may rupture as a result of increased pressure. usually caused by trauma. usually occur as round or oval darkened area on the eardrum

Answer 21

preforation

Question 22

surgically inserted into the eardrum to relieve middle ear pressure and promote drainage of fluid from chronic or recurrent middle ear infections. number of infections tends to decrease because of improved aeration. extruded spontaneously in 12-18 months

Answer 22

insertion of tympanostomy tubes

Question 23

overgrowth of epidermal tissue in middle ear or temporal bone may result over the year after a marginal tympanic membrane perforation. has a pearly white, cheesy appearance. growth of cholesteatoma can erode bone and produce hearing loss. eary sign include ottorrhea, unilateral conductive hearing loss, and tinnitus.

Answer 23

cholesteatoma

Question 24

dense white patches on the eardrum are sequelae of repeated ear infection. they do not necessarily affect hearing

Answer 24

scarred eardrum

Question 25

indicated presence of blood in the middle ear, as occurs when trauma results in skull fracture

Answer 25

blue eardrum - hemotympanum

Question 26

small vesicles containing blood on the eardrum accompany mycoplasma pneumoniae and virus infections. affected pt may have blood tinged discharge and severe otalgia

Answer 26

bullous myringitis

Question 27

colony of black or white dots on eardrum or canal wall

Answer 27

fungal infection - otomycosis