Perilymphatic fistula: an often unrecognized occupational handicap? A review of the literature and some consequent remarks

Perilymphatic fistula is an abnormal communication between inner and middle ear, usually through the oval or the round window, with a leakage of perilymph in the middle ear. It can present with fluctuating and generally progressive hearing loss, frequently associated to dizziness and/or vertigo, aural fullness and tinnitus that can occur without a precise pattern. Despite the potential danger derived from the persistence of a perilymphatic fistula in some categories of workers, the necessity to protect potentially affected subjects is often underestimated: for this reason, a review of the literature seemed useful in order to assess the overall awareness of the problem and help avoiding the exposure of these subjects to uncontrolled risks.