Malignant otitis externa: Difference between revisions
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===Adults=== | ===Adults=== | ||
*[[Otitis externa]] that has not resolved despite 2-3wks of topical antibiotics | *[[Otitis externa]] that has not resolved despite 2-3wks of topical antibiotics | ||
*[[Otalgia]] | *[[Otalgia]] often out of proportion for routine otitis externa | ||
*Edema of external auditory canal | *Edema of external auditory canal | ||
*Granulation tissue often seen in the ear canal floor | *Granulation tissue often seen in the ear canal floor | ||
Revision as of 22:59, 9 January 2016
Background
- Life-threatening infection of external ear/canal, soft tissue, +/- spread to skull base
- Diabetes and immunosuppression are main risk factors
- Pseudomonas causes >90% of cases
- Begins as simple otitis externa
Clinical Features
Adults
- Otitis externa that has not resolved despite 2-3wks of topical antibiotics
- Otalgia often out of proportion for routine otitis externa
- Edema of external auditory canal
- Granulation tissue often seen in the ear canal floor
- Facial nerve often first CN involved[1]
- CN IX, X, or XI involvement
- Trismus
Pediatrics
- More rapidly progressive than in adults
- TM, middle ear, and facial nerve more likely to be affected
Differential Diagnosis
Ear Diagnoses
External
- Auricular hematoma
- Auricular perichondritis
- Cholesteatoma
- Contact dermatitis
- Ear foreign body
- Herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt syndrome)
- Malignant otitis externa
- Otitis externa
- Otomycosis
- Tympanic membrane rupture
Internal
- Acute otitis media
- Chronic otitis media
- Mastoiditis
Inner/vestibular
Diagnosis
- Imaging[2]
- Most authors support CT initially, but CT fails to dx early osteomyelitis since 30% bone destruction needed for detection
- MRI more sensitive for intracranial complications
- Labs
- WBC usually normal or slightly elevated
- Left shift uncommon
- Elevated ESR differentiates from MOE from acute external otitis or malignancy
Treatment
Adults
Peds
Disposition
- Contact ENT for disposition decision; early infection may be managed as outpt
Complications
- Lateral or sigmoid sinus thrombosis
- Meningitis
See Also
Source
- Tintinalli
- ↑ Pfaff JA, Moore GP: Otolaryngology, in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2014, Ch 72.
- ↑ Nussenbaum B et Al. Malignant Otitis Externa Workup. Medscape, Jul 14 2015. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/845525-workup#c4