Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Intrathecal Application of a Fluorescent Dye for the Identification of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks in Cochlear Malformation
Published on: February 29, 2020
Case of bilateral pneumolabyrinth presenting as sudden, bilateral deafness, without temporal bone fracture, after a
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeon-ju, South Korea. imaima97@naver.com
Objective:
We report a case of bilateral pneumolabyrinth presenting as sudden, bilateral deafness, without temporal bone fracture, after a fall.
Case Report:
A 49-year-old man presented with sudden, bilateral deafness and whirling vertigo, without any other neurological manifestations. Temporal bone computed tomography clearly demonstrated the presence of air in the vestibule and cochlea on both sides. However, there was no definite fracture line, ossicular chain anomaly or soft tissue density in the temporal bone or middle-ear cavity. The patient was treated conservatively. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in his hearing.
Conclusion:
Pneumolabyrinth is an uncommon condition in which air is present in the vestibule or cochlea. It is rarely found, even with fractures violating the otic capsule or with transverse fractures of the temporal bone. In addition, its bilateral occurrence is extremely rare. In this article, we describe a case of bilateral pneumolabyrinth presenting as sudden, bilateral deafness, without temporal bone fracture, an occurrence which has not previously been reported.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract III: Percussion
Percussion in Respiratory Assessment
Percussion evaluates underlying tissue composition with audible and tactile vibrations,...
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding II: Palpation and Auscultation
Palpation Findings
During a respiratory assessment, palpation can reveal several vital abnormalities:
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.

