Gradenigo’s and Vernet’s syndrome in an adult man with Candida mastoiditis

The authors report a case of fungal otitis media complicated by extension of the infection into adjacent structures causing apical petrositis and subsequently involvement of the jugular foramen in a 71-year-old diabetic man. First described in 1907, Gradenigo’s syndrome is a serious but rare clinical triad of acute otitis media, unilateral pain in the distribution of cranial nerve V (trigeminal) and ipsilateral cranial nerve VI (abducens) palsy that commonly presents without all three features and is therefore often missed. In this report, our patient was initially misdiagnosed as having a diabetic cranial neuropathy, and later he developed Vernet’s syndrome. Despite aggressive surgical and medical management, he did poorly and died a few weeks later. Clinicians need to be aware of this serious and life-threatening complication of otitis media in high-risk individuals with diabetes or immunocompromised states, to allow early diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes.

Diplopia in a Child: Gradenigo Syndrome Is an Unforgettable Disease

Gradenigo syndrome is a clinical triad of abducens nerve palsy, retro-orbital pain (trigeminal ganglionitis), and chronic otorrhea (otitis media). The etiology of Gradenigo syndrome results from apical petrositis secondary to suppurative otitis media. Although apical petrositis has gradually become uncommon in modern society due to the widespread use of antibiotics, Gradenigo syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child’s diplopia.

Rare case of chronic suppurative otitis media with gradenigo syndrome

<p class="abstract">We report a case of sixth nerve palsy as a rare complication of acute otitis media (apical petrositis). The clinical triad of symptoms consisting of retro-orbital unilateral pain related to trigeminal nerve involvement, diplopia due to sixth nerve palsy and persistent otorrhea is known as Gradenigo syndrome. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics along with modified radical mastoidectomy and had complete resolution of his symptoms.</p>