ear, nose, and throat disorders
Herpes Zoster Oticus
Introduction
Herpes zoster oticus is an uncommon manifestation of herpes zoster that affects the 8th cranial nerve ganglia and the geniculate ganglion of the 7th (facial) cranial nerve. Herpes Zoster (shingles) is reactivation of varicella-zoster virus infection. Risk factors for reactivation include immunodeficiency secondary to cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and HIV infection. Typically, the virus remains latent in a dorsal root ganglion, and reactivation manifests as painful skin lesions in a dermatomal distribution. However, the virus rarely remains latent in the geniculate ganglion; when reactivated, the virus causes symptoms involving the 7th and 8th cranial nerves. 