Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Korean Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (대한이비인후과학회)
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Left Side Otalgia Caused by Acute Myocardial Infarction

급성 심근경색에 의해 발생한 좌측 이통 1예

  • Chung, Juyong (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wonkwang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Ji-Su (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Choi, Jin Woong (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University)
  • 정주용 (원광대학교 의과대학 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 박지수 (충남대학교 의과대학 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 최진웅 (충남대학교 의과대학 이비인후-두경부외과학교실)
  • Received : 2016.09.29
  • Accepted : 2016.12.14
  • Published : 2017.06.25
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Abstract

Otalgia consists of primary otalgia associated with disorders of the ear itself and referred otalgia due to disorders of organs that share the same innervation with the ear. Disorders of the oral cavity and laryngopharynx served by the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves are common causes of referred otalgia. Chest pain from myocardial infarction spreads through the afferent pain pathway, especially through the sympathetic nerves in the cardiac plexus and the phrenic nerve, resulting in a typical chest pain or referred pain in the left upper extremity. However, pain spreading through the vagus nerve can theoretically cause referred otalgia. This association between the heart and ear has not been widely acknowledged, even though a referred otalgia can occasionally be the only symptom of the tragic disease, myocardial infarction, and should be taken seriously. We report a patient who complained of left otalgia as the only symptom of myocardial infarction.

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