Referred otalgia.

The diagnosis and management of otalgia may be a very simple task or a very complex and frustrating experience for both physician and patient. A thorough understanding of the anatomy of the head and neck is required. A basic knowledge of neuroanatomy, with emphasis on the cranial nerves, their course, distribution, and function, is also necessary. The complexity of this field may sometimes require the treating physician to call for consultations from colleagues in the fields of oral surgery, neurology, or neurosurgery. It is often through the collaboration of different specialists that patients are provided with the appropriate medical care they deserve. This has never been more true than in the area of the head and neck.