Pediatric otosclerosis: case report and literature review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Otology
• Temporal Bone Pathology

Background:

• Otospongiosis is a temporal bone osteodystrophy causing progressive hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Typically, it affects adults in their third to fourth decade, presenting as conductive hearing loss.
• However, otosclerosis can uncommonly manifest in children and adolescents with conductive or sensorineural hearing loss.

Observation:

• A case study of an 11-year-old patient with a 5-year history of progressive unilateral conductive hearing loss.
• Clinical examination revealed a positive Schwartz's sign in the affected left ear.
• Audiometry, impedanciometry, and CT scans provided characteristic findings suggestive of otospongiosis.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates that otospongiosis can present in pediatric patients with progressive conductive hearing loss.
• Diagnostic tools like otoscopy, audiometry, impedanciometry, and CT scans are crucial for identifying otospongiosis in children.
• Schwartz's sign, though uncommon, can be an indicator of otospongiosis in pediatric cases.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering otospongiosis in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss in children and adolescents.
• Early identification and diagnosis are critical for timely intervention and management of otospongiosis in pediatric populations.
• Further research into the clinical aspects, diagnostic nuances, and therapeutic strategies for pediatric otospongiosis is warranted.