Report of a Case of Panotitis in an Adult

Abstract

Moderate grades of involvement of the labyrinth are not infrequent complications in severe forms of acute suppuration of the middle ear. This condition is regarded as a hyperemia of the labyrinth or pressure exerted on the labyrinthine structures and is characterized by severe tinnitus, marked deafness, nausea and vomiting. The prognosis for restoration of hearing is usually good. Politzer has described under the title of panotitis, a simultaneous or rapidly following involvement of labyrinth and middle ear, usually occurring in children, and distinguishes between a genuine or meningeal type and one occurring after scarlatinal diphtheria. This is a very severe infection which leads to disorganization of the labyrinth and complete deafness. Caries of the labyrinth frequently occurs in the course of chronic purulent otitis, as has been often demonstrated since the introduction of the so-called “radical” operation. The following case of simultaneous involvement of the middle and internal ears in an adult patient possesses a number of unusual features: