A Case of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Accompanied with Ear Bleeding / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a generic term used for any problem concerning the jaw joint. The clinical signs of TMD are crepitus associated with movement, restriction of jaw movements, and pain within the joint cavity. But ear bleeding and an external auditory canal (EAC) mass as presenting symptoms are rare. We report the case of 78-year-old man with TMD, whose initial symptoms were ear bleeding, and temporomandibular pain intensifying when he is chewing, accompanied by an EAC mass. Physical examination revealed a reddish mass that originated from the anterior wall of EAC and bled when touched. Computed tomography showed a mass with soft tissue density and a bony defect in the anterior EAC wall. After conducting arthrocentesis and lavage repetitively, the wound was healed completely. It is likely that the patient's ear bleeding was due to patent foramen of Huschke or erosion of the anterior wall of EAC due to temporomandibular joint inflammation.