title: Pneumolabyrinth associated with perilymph fistula.
abstract: Pneumolabyrinth associated with perilymph fistula, especially with the presence of air in the cochlea, has rarely been identified using imaging study. We present a 24-year-old woman who experienced right fluctuating sensorineural hearing impairment and dis-equilibrium after sustaining an open-handed slap on the right side of her face. The diagnosis of pneumolabyrinth was established through the detection of air bubbles in the right basal turn of cochlea using high-resolution computerized tomography. Right side exploratory tympanotomy confirmed the presence of a perilymph fistula. The patient was free of symptoms after surgery. Early fistula repair was beneficial in this case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, 280, Jen-Ai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shih-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Yung-Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pa-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D007758:Ear, Inner; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010498:Perilymph