Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Endaural Endoscopic Atticoantrotomy (Retrograde Mastoidectomy) using a Constant Suction Bone-drilling Technique
Published on: May 23, 2021
Outcomes of malignant external otitis: survival vs mortality
Chun-Nan Chen1, Yuh-Shyang Chen, Te-Huei Yeh
1Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipe, Taiwan.
Conclusions:
In patients with malignant external otitis (MEO), mortality was not related to age, sex, degree of glucose tolerance, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), microorganism, comorbid disease, or involvement of a single cranial nerve. Severe complications such as skull base osteomyelitis, intracranial extension, and involvement of multiple cranial nerves were correlated with mortality.
Objectives:
To analyze the factors that affect the survival of patients with MEO in today's era of advanced antibiotics.
Patients And Methods:
Patients with a diagnosis of MEO from 1993 to 2005 were collected.
Results:
A total 26 patients with a mean age of 63.7+/-10.2 years were included. All had a history of DM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.2%), and fungus (15.4%) were most frequently found in pus cultures. Cranial nerves were involved in 11 patients: the facial nerve was most frequently (38.46%) involved. Complications such as osteomyelitis (11 patients) and intracranial involvement (3 patients) were noted in this series. Mastoidectomy was performed in 12 patients. A total of five patients died.
