Several benign and malignant tumors may be observed on the skin of the external ear at various ages, and some are specifically located in this area. Large lesions may be disfiguring and impair hearing by obstructing the external auditory canal. They may also cause chronic ulcerations and, in some cases, secondary destruction of underlying cartilage. The management of some external ear tumors requires a multidisciplinary approach. Being aware of the rich clinical spectrum of auricular tumors may enable early diagnosis, preventing more aggressive surgery with accompanying undesirable cosmetic results and decreasing the risk of metastasis in malignant tumors. The diagnosis of associated systemic diseases and genodermatoses may also be possible.

Objective:To evaluate the anatomical variations of the inner ear in patients with Meniere's disease using magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） and to explore the role of these variations in different types of endolymphatic hydrops. Methods:Twenty-eight patients clinically diagnosed with Meniere's disease underwent 5.0T inner ear MRI with gadolinium contrast. All patients received conventional non-contrast inner ear MRI, internal auditory canal hydrography, and 3D-FLAIR sequences. Four hours after intravenous administration of a double dose of gadolinium contrast agent, enhanced 3D-FLAIR and thin-slice T1-weighted fat-suppressed sequences were performed. The distance between the vertical portion of the posterior semicircular canal and the posterior cranial fossa（MRI-PP distance） was measured bilaterally on inner ear hydrography sequences. Two radiologists, each with 10 years of experience in head and neck imaging, independently interpreted the degree of endolymphatic hydrops on the gadolinium-enhanced inner ear images according to Bernaets' visual grading method. Any discrepancies were resolved through discussion. Vestibular hydrops was scored from 0 to 3, and cochlear hydrops was scored from 0 to 2. A total hydrops score for each side（left/right） was calculated as the sum of the vestibular and cochlear scores. SPSS 26.0 statistical software was used for Pearson correlation analysis between these scores and the MRI-PP values. Furthermore, the presence or absence of cochlear and vestibular hydrops was defined as 1 and 0, respectively, and independent samples t-tests were performed between these dichotomized groups and the MRI-PP values. Results:A total of 56 ears from 28 patients were analyzed. The mean total hydrops score was（1.25±0.89） for the left ears and（0.89±0.74） for the right ears. The mean MRI-PP distance was（2.36±1.09） mm for the left side and（2.74±1.41） mm for the right side. Pearson correlation analysis results: For the left side, correlation between the total hydrops score and the MRI-PP distance was not significant（P=0.662）, while correlations between the cochlear hydrops score and the MRI-PP distance（P=0.003）, and between the vestibular hydrops score and the MRI-PP distance（P<0.001） were statistically significant. For the right side, correlations between the total hydrops score and the MRI-PP distance（P=0.402）, between the cochlear hydrops score and the MRI-PP distance（P=0.716）, and between the vestibular hydrops score and the MRI-PP distance（P=0.541） were not statistically significant. Conclusion:The MRI-PP distance has the potential to serve as an imaging anatomical indicator for assessing the risk of developing Meniere's disease, especially for left-sided involvement. 5.0T MRI can effectively advance the imaging diagnosis of Meniere's disease from traditional qualitative assessment toward quantitative evaluation, providing a new technical platform and imaging basis for uncovering the disease's pathogenesis and guiding individualized precision treatment.

Accurate sleep assessment relies on the high-quality, long-term acquisition of physiological signals. However, traditional polysomnography (PSG) relies on cumbersome equipment with poor user comfort and often interferes with the user's sleep quality. Herein, a wearable in-ear EEG sleep monitoring and intervention platform is developed based on a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/leather composite electrode. By leveraging the relatively enclosed and stable environment of the ear canal, this platform achieves an optimal balance between long-term comfort and signal accuracy. The PEDOT/leather electrode demonstrates robust electrical stability, low interfacial impedance, and high mechanical durability. Benefiting from the anatomical proximity to the central nervous system, the platform enables precise EEG acquisition and sleep stage classification (Wake, NREM, REM). Moreover, active sleep modulation is realized through integrated closed-loop acoustic stimulation. This integrated sensing-and-intervention platform offers a highly promising solution for next-generation personalized sleep medicine and neurological disease management.

Aural myiasis is an uncommon parasitic infestation involving the external auditory canal by fly larvae, typically seen in tropical climates, especially among individuals with poor hygiene or immunocompromised status. Though rare, it can lead to serious complications, including tympanic membrane perforation or intracranial invasion. We describe a 55-year-old man with hypertension who had been experiencing pain and bleeding in his right ear for four days. Live maggots were found in the right external auditory canal during otoscopic examination. It was impossible to see the tympanic membrane. Systemic and topical antibiotics, supportive therapy, and aural toileting were all effective treatments for the patient. To avoid major complications, aural myiasis must be diagnosed early and treated quickly. In this instance, there was no deeper structure infection or involvement of the facial nerve, and the recovery went smoothly. The patient was receiving antihypertensive medication and had a history of angioplasty. Even though it is uncommon, patients who present with sudden-onset ear pain, bleeding, and a crawling sensation should be evaluated for aural myiasis, particularly in areas where it is endemic. For management, early detection and comprehensive debridement are essential.

Post-mortem microbiology (PMM) is a significant diagnostic tool to identify infectious agents, unfortunately not always applied in forensic context. Two cases of meningo-encephalitis in juvenile females are reported. The first case involved an 8-year-old girl found dead in her bed, after a three-months clinical history of shortness of breath, coughing, vomiting, headache and purulent discharge from the ear canal. A diagnosis of adenoidal hypertrophy was made by pediatricians. At autopsy, acute and chronic multifocal inflammatory infiltrates were found at the brain, lungs, thymus and adenoidal tissue. The microbiological analysis performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive for Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). The cause of death was assessed as meningo-encephalitis based both on histological findings and PMM results. Based on the clinical history, medical malpractice issues were assessed. The second case is related to an 11-year-old girl's death, who showed a rapid neurological decline with cerebral edema and decompressive craniotomy, after a prompt diagnosis of otitis media and mastoiditis. Microbiological tests performed on samples taken before death and on formalin-fixed tissues taken after death, showed negative results. The cause of death was assessed as acute meningo-encephalitis based on the histological findings. They were mostly represented by wide inflammatory infiltrates within the cerebral parenchyma and subpial regions. Comparison of these two cases shows the strengths and limitations of PMM in the identification of the etiological agents. This issue can be crucial in the evaluation of infectious diseases and medical malpractice. In this regard, a reliable PMM requires that recommended sampling protocols be applied to biological fluids and soft tissues.

Following periodontal disease, ear disease is one of the most frequently reported diseases in dogs. Ear disease often remains undiagnosed due to the vague or absent nature of its clinical signs. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), now widely used in the specialty of veterinary dentistry, enables concurrent assessment of ear structures during comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT). This study evaluated the prevalence of ear disease in small-breed dogs undergoing CBCT during COHAT procedures.

A 49-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of red facial nodules and a 3-month history of left-sided hearing decline. A biopsy revealed mixed inflammation and emperipolesis of histiocyte-like cells. An immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the histiocyte-like cells were positive for S100 and CD68PGM1 and negative for CD1a and CD207, confirming the diagnosis of cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (CRDD). The initial treatment consisted of oral prednisone acetate combined with methotrexate. Due to limited efficacy and adverse effects, methotrexate was discontinued, and prednisone acetate monotherapy was used. After 2 months, the patient's skin lesions gradually resolved, and hearing improved. This case demonstrates that CRDD involving the ear can lead to hearing recovery following systemic corticosteroid therapy.

A 34-year-old woman with concurrent Meniere's disease (MD) and superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) presented with third-window-mediated drop attacks and episodic vertigo refractory to conservative medical management. The coexistence of these conditions and the pattern of presentation suggested overlapping inner-ear pathophysiology in which abnormal third-window mechanics potentiated MD symptoms. The patient underwent a single-stage transmastoid superior semicircular canal plugging and endolymphatic sac decompression to address both aberrant labyrinthine pressure transmission and impaired endolymphatic regulation. Postoperatively, the patient experienced complete resolution of vertiginous episodes and third-window symptoms without significant impact on hearing. Review of the literature revealed no prior reports of single-stage surgical management of concurrent MD and SSCD. This case describes the complex decision-making and considerations involved in treating a patient with multiple vestibular disorders and highlights the potential role of addressing abnormal intracranial and inner ear pressure dynamics when multiple conditions coexist.

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in companion animals is an emerging public health threat due to zoonotic potential and limited therapeutic options. Dogs with otitis externa may harbor multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), and Enterobacter cloacae complex (E. cloacae complex), some producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) or AmpC β-lactamases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, AMR patterns, MDR occurrence, β-lactamase production, and co-infection profiles of these pathogens in canine otitis externa. Methods: Ear canal samples were collected from 592 dogs presenting clinical signs of otitis externa, with one sample per dog included in the analysis. Samples were collected from veterinary clinics in Timiș County, Romania, from 2022 to 2025. Samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar, followed by biochemical testing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for bacterial identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 15 agents across six classes was performed using the VITEK[®] 2 system. MDR and β-lactamase production (ESBL, AmpC) were determined according to CLSI 2018 veterinary guidelines. Co-isolation with bacterial and fungal species were recorded. Results:E. coli, P. mirabilis, and E. cloacae complex were isolated in 9.12%, 6.25%, and 1.2% of cases, respectively. E. coli exhibited the highest resistance to aminoglycosides (tobramycin 72.2%, gentamicin 61.1%) and full susceptibility to carbapenems. P. mirabilis showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (54%) and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (46%), with complete susceptibility to carbapenems and fluoroquinolones. E. cloacae complex displayed universal resistance to cephalosporins but remained susceptible to non-cephalosporin β-lactams (piperacillin-tazobactam), carbapenems and aminoglycosides. MDR prevalence was 35.2% for E. coli, 18.9% for P. mirabilis, and 14.3% for the E. cloacae complex. ESBL production was detected in 13% of E. coli and 8.1% of P. mirabilis isolates, while all E. cloacae complex isolates were AmpC-positive. Co-isolations were common, primarily involving Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (S. pseudintermedius) and Malassezia pachydermatis (M. pachydermatis). Conclusions: MDR and β-lactamase-producing bacteria were identified in dogs with otitis externa, emphasizing the importance of routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, targeted therapy based on local resistance profiles, and continuous AMR surveillance to prevent treatment failure and mitigate zoonotic risk.