Differential Diagnosis for Left Ear Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: The pain radiating to the jaw and exacerbation with yawning are classic symptoms of TMJ disorder, which is a common condition affecting the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Otalgia (ear pain) due to referred pain from a dental issue: Dental problems such as a toothache or abscess can cause referred pain to the ear, especially if the pain is exacerbated by jaw movements.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction: This condition can cause ear pain, especially if the patient experiences fullness or pressure in the ear, although the absence of hearing loss or discharge makes this less likely.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: This condition involves sudden, severe, shock-like pain around the eyes, lips, or nose mainly due to irritation of the trigeminal nerve, but can sometimes present with ear pain.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Temporal arteritis: Although less common, temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) is a serious condition that can cause severe headaches, jaw claudication, and visual disturbances. It requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications like blindness.
- Malignancy (e.g., parotid gland tumor, nasopharyngeal carcinoma): Although rare, these conditions can cause ear pain and should be considered, especially if there are other symptoms like a neck mass, weight loss, or neurological deficits.
- Rare diagnoses
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus): This condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and can lead to ear pain, facial weakness, and sometimes hearing loss or vertigo, but the absence of rash or hearing loss makes this less likely.
- Eagle syndrome (elongated styloid process): This is a rare condition where an abnormally long styloid process can cause ear pain, facial pain, and difficulty swallowing, but it is less common and usually associated with other specific symptoms.