Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T01:47:35.456Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The diagnostic criteria of malignant external otitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

David Cohen*
Affiliation:
Jerusalem, Israel
Peter Friedman
Affiliation:
Jerusalem, Israel
*
Department of Otolaryngology, Bikur Cholim General Hospital, 2–5 Strauss St., P.O. Box 492, Jerusalem, Israel91002.

Abstract

The diagnostic criteria of malignant external otitis (MEO) have been reviewed. They were divided into two categories: obligatory and occasional. The obligatory criteria are: pain, edema, exudate, granulations, microabscess (when operated), positive bone scan or failure of local treatment often more than 1 week, and possibly pseudomonas in culture. The occasional criteria are diabetes, cranial nerve involvement, positive radiograph, debilitating condition and old age. All of the obligatory criteria must be present in order to establish the diagnosis. The presence of occasional criteria alone does not establish it. The importance of Tc99 scan in detecting osteomyelitis is stressed. When bone scan is not available, a trial of 1–3 weeks of local treatment is suggested. Failure to respond to such treatment may assist in making the diagnosis of MEO.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bayardelle, P., Joliuet-Granger, M. and Larochelle, D. (1982) Staphylococcal malignant external otitis. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 126: 155156.Google ScholarPubMed
Chandler, J. R. (1968) Malignant external otitis. Laryngoscope, 78: 12571294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chandler, J. R. (1972) Pathogenesis and treatment of facial paralysis due to malignant external otitis. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 81: 648658.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chandler, J. R. (1977) Malignant external otitis, further considerations. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 86: 417428.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coberand, J., Nguyen, F., Fraysse, B. and Enjalbert, L. (1982) Malignant external otitis and poly-morphonuclear leukocyte migration impairment. Archives of Otolaryngology, 108: 122124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, D., Friedman, P. and Eilon, A. (1985) Malignant external otitis versus acute external otitis. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 101, 211215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Damiani, J. M., Damiani, K. K. and Kinney, S. E. (1980) Malignant external otitis with multiple cranial nerve involvement. American Journal of Otology, 1: 115120.Google Scholar
Dawson, D. A. (1978) Malignant otitis externa. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 92: 803810.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ichimura, K. (1983) Neutrophil disorders in a child with necrotizing external otitis. Journal of Otolaryngology, 12: 129133.Google Scholar
Joachims, H. Z. (1976) Malignant external otitis in children. Archives of Otolaryngology, 102: 236237.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lucente, F. E., Parisier, S. C., Som, P. M. and Arnold, L. M. (1982) Malignant external otitis: A dangerous misnomer?. Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 90: 226269.Google ScholarPubMed
Mader, J. T. and Love, J. (1982) Malignant external otitis. Archives of Otolaryngology, 108: 3840.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meltzer, P. and Kelemen, G. (1959) Pyocyaneus osteomyelitis of the temporal bone, mandible and zygoma. Laryngoscope, 69: 13001316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyerhoff, W. L., Gates, G. A. and Montalbo, J. (1977) Pseudomonas mastoiditis. Laryngoscope, 87: 483492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchell, C. and Weston, M. (1975) Malignant otitis externa in a patient on hemodialysis. British Journal of Clinical Practice, 29: 126127.Google Scholar
Obiako, M. N. (1981) Malignant external otitis: not entirely a disease of the elderly. Practitioner, 255: 11171118.Google Scholar
Ostfeld, E., Aviel, A. and Pelet, D. (1981) Malignant external otitis: The diagnostic value of bone scin-tigraphy. Laryngoscope, 91: 960964.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ostfeld, E., Segal, M. and Czernobilsky, B. (1982) Malignant external otitis: Early histopathologic changes and pathogenic mechanism. Laryngoscope, 91: 965970.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Page-Balzan, J. (1977) Necrotizing otitis externa. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 91: 735738.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parisier, S. C., Lucente, F., Som, P., Hirschman, S., Arnold, L. and Roffman, J. (1982) Nuclear scanning in necrotizing progressive ‘malignant’ external otitis. Laryngoscope, 92: 10161020.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prasod, U. (1976) Malignant external otitis. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 90: 963965.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sando, I. (1981) Temporal bone histopathology of necrotizing external otitis. Annals of Otolaryngology, 90: 109115.Google ScholarPubMed
Shamboul, K. and Burns, H. (1983) Malignant external otitis in a young diabetic patient. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 97: 247249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shanon, E. and Bialystock, K. G. (1972) Pseudomonal granulomatous external otitis. Acta Otolaryngologica, 73: 374378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soliman, A. D. (1978) A rare case of malignant otitis externa in a non-diabetic patient. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 92: 811812.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strauss, M., Aber, R. C., Conner, C. H. and Baum, S. (1982) Malignant external otitis: Long term (months) antimicrobial therapy. Laryngoscope, 92: 397406.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, D. F. and Pulec, J. L. (1971) Malignant external otitis. Archives of Otolaryngology, 92: 419422.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zaky, D. A. and Bentley, D. W. (1976) Malignant external otitis: A severe form of otitis in diabetic patient. Journal of Medicine, 61: 298302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar