haematotympanum
hematotympanum
hemotympanum

Hemotympanum, or hematotympanum, refers to the presence of blood in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear.

Basilar skull fractures, those that occur at the base of the skull, are associated with Battle's sign, a subcutaneous bleed over the mastoid, hemotympanum, and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and otorrhea.

Patients may also present with hemotympanum (blood behind the tympanic membrane), sensory deafness, and vertigo - the latter two symptoms due to damage to vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII) and the inner ear.