title: Otalgia as the sole presenting manifestation of subdural hematoma.
abstract: A case is reported of a 57-year-old man with sudden development of nontraumatic left-sided otalgia without any localizing features on otolaryngologic or neurologic examinations. The condition persisted despite empirical antibiotic therapy and simple analgesics. A subsequent computed tomography of the head revealed a subacute left frontoparietal subdural hematoma that was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosurgical drainage was performed with complete symptom resolution. This case report illustrates a possible rare sole presenting manifestation of subdural hematoma. This condition should be considered early in cases of otalgia if no causes are deduced after extensive otolaryngologic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106-5000, USA. ooz@po.cwru.edu
authors.forename: Osama O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Zaidat
authors.forename: Eroboghene E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ubogu
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology*; D020199:Hematoma, Subdural, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed