title: Neglected keratosis obturans causing facial nerve palsy.
abstract: Keratosis obturans is characterized by the accumulation of desquamated keratinous material in the bony portion of the external auditory canal. Classically, it is reported to present with severe otalgia, conductive hearing loss and global widening of the external auditory canal. Extensive erosion of the bony meatus, with exposure of the facial nerve, has been previously reported, but no case of facial nerve palsy has as yet been published. We report the first published case, to our knowledge, of a unilateral facial nerve palsy secondary to neglected keratosis obturans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. fglynn@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D002571:Cerumen; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D016312:Treatment Refusal