Bilateral symptomatic petrous apex effusion

Abstract

Petrous apex effusions can present with aural fullness, hearing loss and dizziness. Although they can be followed-up when asymptomatic, clinical management of symptomatic patients is controversial. In this study, we present clinical and radiological findings of a 24-year-old patient with bilateral petrous apex effusion. She had been complaining of bilateral aural fullness and dizziness for 2 years. Radiological examinations revealed bilateral petrous apex effusion. After medical treatment, her symptoms gradually disappeared. In all previous published studies, unilateral petrous apex effusions were reported. To our best knowledge, this is the first patient with trapped fluid in bilateral petrous apex. © 2010 Association of Otolaryngologists of India.