Labyrinthine calcification in ears with otitis media and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (OMAAV): A report of two cases

Otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) has been proposed as a new type of otitis media. The hearing loss caused by OMAAV can be expected to improve with early detection and intervention, but if it continues to worsen and leads to deafness, it is challenging to recover the patient's hearing. When bilateral deafness occurs, cochlear implant (CI) surgery is the only way to improve hearing. Here, Case 1 showed unilateral cochlear calci-fication, and Case 2 showed bilateral cochlear calcification. In Case 1, CI surgery was performed on the ear lacking calcification, and in Case 2 it was performed on the ear with milder calci-fication. In Case 2, granulation was present from the tympanic space to the mastoid, the round window was closed, and the basal turn of the cochlea was narrowed. Such calcification of the cochlea caused by OMAAV has not been reported so far. It is essential to detect these changes by computed tomography scans at an early stage and to perform CI surgery at an appropriate time, because hearing improvements are not expected in patients who become deaf because of OMAAV.(c) 2022 Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) is a new type of otitis media. Early detection and intervention can improve the hearing loss caused by OMAAV, but recovering the patient's hearing may be challenging if it continues to worsen and leads to deafness. Bilateral deafness can only be improved through cochlear implant (CI) surgery. This article presents two cases of cochlear calcification caused by OMAAV and emphasizes the importance of early detection through computed tomography scans and timely CI surgery for hearing improvement in patients with OMAAV-induced deafness.