Enlarged internal auditory canal and sudden deafness.
OBJECTIVE
We report a young man with bilateral enlarged internal auditory canals who developed sudden sensorineural hearing loss following weight-lifting exercise.


METHODS
We present a detailed clinical history, including the patient's high resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans.


RESULTS
The patient reported left-sided hearing loss immediately following weight-lifting exercise. He had no vestibular disturbance. He was treated with a combined regimen of steroids and an antiviral drug, but his profound hearing loss did not resolve. During another session of weight-lifting exercise, he suffered another episode of sudden hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with patulous internal auditory canals, with no other anomalies, who developed bilateral sudden hearing loss after weight-lifting exercise. Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn, close surveillance and lifestyle warnings should be considered in such patients, even if they are clinically asymptomatic.
Magliulo
G
G
G Ferreri Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics Department, University La Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy. giuseppemagliuloorl@yahoo.com
Stasolla
A
A
Colicchio
M G
MG
Gagliardi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014891:Weight Lifting