Hearing loss unusually caused by tubercular retropharyngeal abscess

A 25-year-old man with complaints of neck pain for approximately 6 months and hearing loss accompanied by a feeling of obstruction of the left ear was presented. Findings from the oral cavity examination showed a retropharyngeal fluctuant, mildly tender mass. A conductive hearing loss of approximately 45 dB and a flat-shaped (type B) tympanogram were detected on the left ear. A magnetic resonance image of the neck demonstrated an abscess occupying the retropharyngeal space. Retropharyngeal space abscess was drained and sent both for pathologic and microbiologic analyses. Myringotomy and grommet ventilation tube insertion were performed in the left eardrum. The tube was removed 6 months later, but perforation on the insertion location did not close spontaneously. Therefore, we had to do myringoplasty 3 months later. Antitubercular drugs were given for a period of 9 months. There has been no previous report of a retropharyngeal tuberculous abscess with conductive hearing loss.