Traumatic neuroma of the tympanic (Jacobson's) nerve as a possible cause of otalgia.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To show that traumatic neuroma of the tympanic (Jacobson's) nerve may be a cause of recurrent intractable otalgia in patients following radical mastoidectomies. STUDY DESIGN: Histologic evaluation of four temporal bones from three patients with a history of recurrent otalgia following radical mastoidectomy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The medical records of three patients with multiple middle ear surgeries in four ears because of recurrent otalgia were reviewed. Histopathologic studies of the four temporal bones were performed. RESULTS: All four of the temporal bones that underwent multiple surgeries were found to have traumatic neuromas of the tympanic (Jacobson's) nerve. CONCLUSION: Recurrent otalgia in patients after radical middle ear surgery may be caused by a traumatic neuroma of the tympanic (Jacobson's) nerve.