Pneumolabyrinth: an unusual finding in a temporal bone fracture

Pneumolabyrinth or pneumocochlea are rarely found in temporal bone fractures. The presence of air in the inner ear is evidence of a pathological connection between the inner ear and the air-fitted mastoid or middle ear cavities. A case of a pneumolabyrinth in a 2-years-old child is presented here. Diagnosis was made by means of a high resolution, thin sections computed tomography (CT) scan of the temporal bones, which is the imaging modality of choice in cases of otologic complaints after head trauma. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.