IMPACTED CERUMEN.—This disease occurs very frequently, and, as a rule, is considered a matter of very little moment by the profession at large, whereas, in fact, it is often a symptom of grave disorders of the middle ear. Roosa mentions that in 1448 cases observed by him in private practice, only 101 were cases of inspissated cerumen alone, the great majority showing in addition serious disorders of other parts of the organ of hearing. The ceruminous glands are found chiefly in the cartilaginous portion of the external canal, and, according to Kessel, resemble the sweat-glands not only in the time and manner of their development, but also in their external form and minute histology. This is also true of the contents of the ceruminous glands, as far as the microscope allows us to judge, the only difference being that in cerumen masses of very fine corpuscles of coloring matter are found.1 The ceruminous glands secrete but slowly, and the cerumen tends to harden and become dark in color as it grows older. The removal of the secretion is probably effected by several factors. Numerous experiments prove that the epithelial lining of the external canal has a constant motion from within outward; necessarily any substance resting on it will move with it. Cerumen could in this way be constantly extruded from the external canal; and the cerumen, becoming dry and hard by exposure to the air, would tend to separate from the skin by curling itself into small rolls, and so drop out from the external meatus. The question naturally arises, Why does the cerumen form such impacted masses as are met with? We submit the following explanation:
In many of these cases the secretion is largely above the normal, and catarrh of the naso-pharynx is found associated with it. Pomeroy first noticed this connection, and suggested the probability that the ceruminous function is greatly affected in catarrhal disease, on the theory that the earlier stages of catarrh would result in hyperæmia, and consequently augmented function, of the ceruminous glands, which if continued may result in atrophy with abolition of function, precisely as results in inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the fauces.2
1 Vide Stricher, Textbook, p. 951.
2 American Otological Soc. Trans., 1872.
The pneumogastric nerve by its pharyngeal branch is connected with the pharynx, and by its auricular branch with the external auditory canal, so that irritation of the pharyngeal branches of the nerve, as would occur in pharyngeal catarrh, could readily excite reflex irritation in the auricular branch, with increase of function of the parts to which it is distributed, causing increase of the ceruminous secretion. Conversely, atrophy of the nerve would be followed by atrophy of function of correlated parts. The external canal often presents a sharp angle in its course near the meatus, and this also would tend to cause an accumulation of cerumen.
It is a well-established clinical fact that the great majority of cases of impacted cerumen are found to be associated with serious diseased conditions of the middle ear especially, and probably the diseased middle ear is often an important factor in causing impaction to take place; so that it frequently happens that the patient will experience no increase of hearing after removal of such an impacted mass, owing to the diseased middle ear that may be present. I remember one case where the hearing was absolutely lessened after removal of a ceruminous plug; doubtless in this case the solid conduction through such a mass was better than through an air-filled auditory canal.
SYMPTOMS.—Sudden loss of hearing: this is due to the fact that the mass grows slowly from the periphery toward the centre, and as long as a small central opening remains the hearing power will remain good. Some sudden jolt or misstep, or some quick-acting force, will cause occlusion of this narrow passage, with consequent sudden loss of hearing. The tuning-fork, placed on the incisor teeth, will be best heard on the affected side by reason of vibrations being impeded by the mass in their passage through the external canal.
Tinnitus aurium and vertigo are often present, both being due to the mass pressing inward the tympanic membrane, with consequent increase of pressure on the labyrinthine fluid by the chain of small bones pressing on the membrane of the foramen ovale. These symptoms are sometimes alarming to the patient, as in his judgment indicative of serious brain lesion.
DIAGNOSIS.—Examination of the external canal with the speculum and reflected light reveals a dark amber-colored mass lying in the external canal, which can be very hard, the result of exposure to the air for a length of time, as well as the union with it of epithelial débris of the skin of the canal; or it may be soft, like syrup, in its consistence.