[Meningeal herniation associated to chronic otitis media in an otology center in the City of Mexico]. / La hernia de meninges asociada a otitis media crónica en un centro de atención otológica de la ciudad de México.

ABSTRACT

To assess the frequency and clinical characteristics of meningocele and meningoencephalocele into the middle ear, at an otological referral center of Mexico city. After analyzing 586 recordings of middle ear surgery, we identified that 3 (0.5%) had defects of the tegmen timpani, 2 had brain abscesses (0.34%) and 1 had (0.17%) a facial palsy. Two of the patients with defects of the tegmen timpani had herniation of the intracraneal tissue. Case 1. A 38 year old woman with a history of bilateral chronic otitis media, with 2 surgeries in the left ear. She was seeking medical care because of right hearing loss. However, computed tomography and magnetic resonance showed a defect of the tegmen timpani with temporal lobe herniation in the left ear. Case 2 was a 46 year old woman with no history of ear disease, just high blood pressure. She was seeking medical care because of right hearing loss, vertigo and headache. The clinical evaluation suggested tissue in the middle ear and the computed tomography showed a defect of the tegmen timpani, meningocele was confirmed by surgery. In the 2 patients the clinical characteristics did not suggest herniation of intracraneal tissue as the first diagnosis. This show us the importance of an intended evaluation and image studies to make an early diagnosis.