Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Mimics.

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a commonly suspected cause of aural fullness, otalgia, and hearing loss, but presentation varies among patients. In addition, these symptoms are not specific and can be indicative of other conditions. Some of these conditions are otologic in nature and can be localized to the external, middle, or inner ear. Others arise from outside the ear and can be attributed to functional, neurologic, or structural causes. While presentation may be similar to ETD, differentiation is possible with clinical history, physical examination, and objective testing such as otoscopy, tympanometry, imaging, and specialized vestibular testing.