Malignant Otitis Externa: A Retrospective Analysis and Treatment Outcomes
Author(s): MK Rajasekar, J Mohankumar* and KR Muralidharan
Abstract
Malignant otitis external or skull base osteomyelitis is an extremely rare but potentially fatal disease of the external auditory meatus which is seen among aged people, diabetic or immune compromised patients. The most common organism is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The disease spreads to the invading surrounding soft tissues, bones and cartilage causing their necrosis and even spreading to the skull base and involving cranial nerves. It is a rare fatal disease especially when spread involves skull base. This is most commonly treated with anti-pseudomonas, third generation cephalosporins and local debridement of the wound. The pathology of the disease, clinical picture, diagnosis, management and the outcome has been discussed and reviewed. This article includes 5 series of cases presented to our ENT opd with ear pain and discharge for past 3 months.