Ear pain is a common symptom that affects almost everybody in their lifetime.  It can be a consequence of otologic disease, which can sometimes be identifiable on otoscopy with or without audiometric findings.

If secondary or referred otalgia pain originates from pathology around or outside the ear and thus examination and investigations of the ear itself are normal.  The ear receives sensory innervation from cranial nerves. Given the extensive anatomical territory covered by these shared neural networks which range from the brain, skull base, spine, aerodigestive tract, deep spaces of the neck, salivary gland, face, paranasal sinuses, orbits, skin and viscera, referred otalgia deserves dedicated investigations and treatment.