Abstract

Gradenigo's syndrome, also called Gradenigo-Lannois syndrome and petrous apicitis, is a complication of otitis media and mastoiditis involving the apex of the petrous temporal bone. It was first described by Giuseppe Gradenigo in 1904 when he reported a triad of symptoms consisting of: (1)"unilateral periorbital pain" related to trigeminal nerve involvement, (2)"diplopia" due to sixth nerve palsy and (3)persistent "otorrhea", associated with bacterial otitis media with apex involvement of the petrous part of the temporal bone (petrositis). The classical syndrome related to otitis media has become very rare after the antibiotic era.

Symptoms

Other symptoms of the syndrome include:

- retroorbital pain due to pain in the area supplied by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve),

- abducens nerve palsy (sixth cranial nerve), and

- otitis media.

Other symptoms can include photophobia, excessive lacrimation, fever, and reduced corneal sensitivity.

The syndrome is usually caused by the spread of an infection into the petrous apex of the temporal bone.

Eponym

It is named after Count Giuseppe Gradenigo, an Italian Otolaryngologist, and Maurice Lannois.