Extensive skull base osteomyelitis, devastating complication of otitis externa: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO), also referred to as malignant otitis externa (MOE) in its typical form, is usually a complication of otitis externa and severe uncommon and life-threatening condition requiring early diagnosis and long-term treatment in order to avoid its neurologic sequelae. We report the case of 69 years old female with a history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, who presented refractory and chronic right-sided purulent otorrhea with temporal headaches for 6 months, treated with no improvement by multiple attempts of ambulatory empiric therapy. After the appearance of grade III facial palsy and painful swelling in the right periorbital and zygomatic areas, the patient consulted in our department where a CT scan showed massive cortical and trabecular destruction of the right petrous bone and the mastoid extended to the lateral orbital wall, the zygomatic arch and the greater sphenoid wing realising extensive osteomyelitis of the skull base and the lateral face. The treatment was started immediately based on intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics. Despite aggressive long-term treatment, the patient passed away, underlying the increased SBO morbidity and mortality secondary to delayed diagnosis.