Malignant otitis externa: experience at a tertiary center
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.2192Keywords:
Malignant otitis externa, necrotizing otitis externa, skull base osteomyelitisAbstract
Objective: This study seeks to report the experience of a tertiary medical institution in managing MOE.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of MOE cases admitted to our tertiary hospital from January 2018 to December 2023 was conducted.
Results: Six patients, with a median age of 81.7 years, were included. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most isolated organism. CT scans, conducted for all patients, revealed mastoid and/or middle ear opacification in every case, with 83.3% displaying bone erosion. All patients were managed with intravenous antibiotics. The total average duration of hospitalization was 39.0 days, with 2 recorded deaths.
Conclusion: Despite healthcare advancements, MOE remains associated with high mortality and morbidity. While scintigraphy is historically used for diagnosis, CT and MRI are valuable alternatives for detecting bone and soft tissue involvement. First-line treatment consists of intravenous systemic antibiotic therapy, which can be complemented with surgery and/or hyperbaric oxygen therapy in refractory cases.
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