Passmed ENT Mushkies Flashcards
What is an autosomal dominant cause of deafness affecting young adults?
Otosclerosis
What kind of hearing loss does otosclerosis cause?
Conductive
What kind of hearing loss do acoustic neuromas cause?
Sensorineural
How does Menieres disease usually present?
- Episodic vertigo
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Fullness/pressure in one or both ears
What is otosclerosis?
Replacement of normal bone in the ear by vascular spongy bone, causing progressive conductive deafness due to fixation of the stapes at the oval window
What are some features of otosclerosis?
- 20-40 y/o
- Conductive deafness
- Tinnitus
- Normal tympanic membranes
- Positive FHx
What is the management of otosclerosis?
- Hearing aid
2. Stapedectomy
How can you classify the causes of otitis externa?
- Infection
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis
- Contact dermatitis (allergic and irritant)
What are the infective causes of otitis externa?
- Bacterial = S. aureus, P. aeruginosa
- Viral
- Fungal
What are some features of otitis externa?
- Ear pain
- Itch
- Discharge
- Otoscopy = red, swollen, or eczematous canal
What is the first line management of otitis externa?
- Topical Abx/combined topical Abx with steroid e.g. topical gentamicin + hydrocortisone drops
What can be inserted to manage an extensively swollen ear canal due to otitis externa?
Ear wick
What are second line treatments for otitis externa?
- Spreading infection = oral flucloxacillin
2. Empirical antifungal
What should you do with otitis externa that fails to respond to topical Abx?
Referral to ENT
What is malignant otitis externa, and what pt group do you typically see it in?
- Extension of infection into bony ear canal and soft tissues deep to the bony canal
- Found in immunocompromised individuals (90% diabetics)
What causes an elderly pt that becomes dizzy upon extending his neck?
Vertebrobasilar ischaemia
What is vertigo?
The false sensation that the body or environment is moving
What are features of viral labyrinthitis?
- Recent viral infection
- Sudden onset
- N&V
- Hearing may be affected
What are features of vestibular neuronitis?
- Recent viral infection
- Recurrent vertigo attacks lasting hours or days
- No hearing loss
- Horizontal nystagmus usually present
What are features of BPPV?
- Gradual onset
- Triggered by change in head position
- Each episode lasts 10-20s
How does an acoustic neuroma present?
- Hearing loss
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Absent corneal reflex is an important sign
What condition are acoustic neuromas associated with?
NF2
Is air conduction (AC) usually better than bone conduction (BC)?
Yes
What does BC > AC on Rinne’s test imply?
Conductive deafness
In Weber’s test, to which side is unilateral sensorineural deafness localised to?
To the unaffected side
In Weber’s test, to which is is unilateral conducive deafness localised to?
To the affected side
Is hearing normal or abnormal in vestibular neuronitis?
Normal
What exam can be used to distinguish vestibular neuronitis from a posterior circulation stroke?
The HiNTs exam
What is the management of vestibular neuronitis?
- Vestibular rehab exercises if chronic
- Buccal/IM prochlorperazine for rapid relief in severe cases
- Short oral course of prochlorperazine to alleviate less severe cases
Why should pts with hoarseness being referred down the cancer pathway have a CXR?
To exclude an apical lung lesion
What are some causes of hoarseness?
- Voice overuse
- Smoking
- Infection = viral
- Inflammation = GORD
- Malignancy = laryngeal, lung
- Hypothyroidism
What is otitis externa with worsening unrelenting pain suggestive of?
Malignant (necrotising) otitis externa
What is the most common cause of malignant otitis externa?
P. aeruginosa
What can malignant otitis externa progress to?
Temporal bone osteomyelitis
How is malignant otitis externa usually diagnosed?
CT
How is malignant otitis externa usually managed?
IV Abx that cover pseudomonas
What percentage of otitis media is viral?
50%
What percentage of otitis media improve without Abx?
60%
When should you usually treat otitis media with Abx?
- Sx > 4d or not improving
- Systematically unwell but not requiring admission
- Immunocompromise or high risk of complications secondary to other disease
- Younger than 2 y/o with bilateral otitis media
- Otitis media w/ perforation and/or discharge in the canal
What is the first line Abx for treatment of tonsillitis?
Penicillin V/Phenoxymethylpenicillin for 10 days
What is the first line Abx for treatment of otitis media?
Amoxicillin 500mg TDs for 7 days
What is the most common cause of neck swellings?
Reactive lymphadenopathy
What is a characteristic of a thyroid swelling?
Moves upward on swallowing
In what age group are thyroglossal cysts more common?
<20 y/o
What are some features of a thyroglossal cyst?
- Usually midline, between isthmus of thyroid and the hyoid bone
- Moves upward on protrusion of the tonge
- May be painful if infected
In what pt group are pharyngeal pouches more common?
Older men
What is a pharyngeal pouch?
A posteromedial herniation between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscle
What are some features of a pharyngeal pouch?
- Usually not seen, but if large then a midline neck lump that gurgles on palpation
- Dysphagia
- Regurgitation
- Aspiration
- Chronic cough
What is a cystic hygroma?
A congenital lymphatic lesion (lymphangioma) typically found in the neck, classically on the left side
In what pt group are cystic hygromas more common?
Most evident at birth, 90% present before 2 y/o
What is a branchial cyst?
An oval, mobile mass that develops between the SCM and the pharynx
How does a branchial cyst form?
Develops due to failure of obliteration of the second branchial cleft in embryonic development i.e. failure of fusion of the second and third branchial arches
In what pt group do branchial cysts usually appear?
Early adulthood
What is a complication of a cervical rib?
10% develop thoracic outlet syndrome
In what pt population are cervical ribs more common?
Adult females
What does a carotid aneurysm look like clinically?
Pulsatile lateral neck mass which doesnt move on swallowing
What are some ototoxic medications?
- Gentamicin
- Quinine
- Furosemide
- Aspirin
- Chemo
What are 2 uses for quinine?
- Antimalarials
2. Nocturnal leg cramps
What is presbyacusis?
Age-related sensorineural hearing loss
What does one see on audiometry of presbyacusis?
Bilateral high frequency hearing loss
What is the hearing loss seen with noise damage from e.g. heavy industry?
Bilateral and worse at frequencies of 3000-6000 Hz
How can you classify how acoustic neuromas present?
- CN V = absent corneal reflex
- CN VII = facial palsy
- CN VIII = hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus
What is the most common cause of a perforated tympanic membrane?
Infection
What are 2 other causes of a perforated tympanic membrane?
- Direct trauma
2. Barotrauma
What is the management of a perforated tympanic membrane?
- Usually no tx as will heal in 6-8wks, avoid getting water in ear in this time
- Abx for perforations that occur following a case of acute otitis media
What surgery can be performed if a tympanic membrane does not heal by itself?
Myringoplasty
What is Meniere’s disease?
A disorder of the inner ear of unknown cause, characterised by excessive pressure and progressive dilatation of the endolymphatic system
How long do attacks in Meniere’s disease typically last?
Mins to hours
What is the natural history of Menieres disease?
- Symptoms resolve in the majority of pts after 5-10 yrs
- Most will be left with a degree of hearing loss
- Psychological distress is common
What is the management of Menieres disease?
- Acute = buccal/IM prochlorperazine
2. Prevention = Betahistine and vestibular rehab exercises
What special ting needs to be done with Menieres in terms of management?
DVLA should be informed, cease driving until satisfactory control of sx is achieved
What would cause facial pain that is worse on leaning forwards?
Sinusitis
What is acute sinusitis?
Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses
What are the most common infectious agents seen in acute sinusitis?
- S. pneumoniae
- H. influenzae
- Rhinoviruses
What are some predisposing factors for acute sinusitis?
- Nasal obstruction e.g. septal deviation/nasal polyps
- Recent local infection e.g. rhinitis/dental extraction
- Swimming/diving
- Smoking
What are some features of acute sinusitis?
- Facial pain (frontal, worse on bending down)
- Nasal discharge (thick and purulent)
- Nasal obstruction
What is the management of acute sinusitis?
- Analgesia
- Intranasal
decongestants - Intranasal corticosteroids
- Oral phenoxymethylpenicillin if severe
What can be given for tx of acute sinusitis if symptoms have not resolved after 10 days?
Intranasal corticosteroids
What is the most common cause of acute tonsillitis?
S. pyogenes
What is unilateral swelling and fever most likely to represent with acute tonsillitis?
Quinsy
What is quinsy?
Local abscess formation around the tonsil
What are 4 investigations for presbyacusis?
- Otoscopy = normal
- Tympanometry = normal
- Audiometry = bilateral sensorineural
- Bloods = normal
How many neural pathways lead to referred otalgia?
5
What are the 5 neural pathways that can lead to referred otalgia?
- CNs 5, 7, 9, 10
2. C2 & C3
What is otalgia in the absence of any ear signs a red flag for?
Head and neck malignancy
What virus is nasopharyngeal carcinoma associated with?
EBV
How can you classify how nasopharyngeal carcinomas present?
Local and Systemic