Foramen of Huschke (tympanicum) in a Nigerian male with articular soft-tissue herniation into the external auditory meatus

Ann Afr Med. 2014 Oct-Dec;13(4):226-8. doi: 10.4103/1596-3519.142296.

Abstract

The protrusion of articular soft-tissue from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) into the external ear in the absence of trauma, neoplasm or inflammation is rare. We present below a Nigerian adult male with retrodiscal herniation of soft-tissues of the TMJ into the external auditory meatus through a persistent foramen of Huschke. We are not aware of any reports of this developmental defect or its prevalence in the Nigerian medical literature. Therefore, this case is presented to heighten the index of suspicion of physicians when managing patients with otorrhea and otalgia; which is often primarily diagnosed or misdiagnosed as otitis externa. This will help avoid complications associated with the anomaly, some of which could be very serious.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ear Canal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ear Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ear Diseases / drug therapy
  • Ear Diseases / etiology
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss / etiology
  • Hernia / complications
  • Hernia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hernia / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Soft Tissue Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Soft Tissue Injuries / drug therapy
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / complications
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / drug therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents