Chronic tympanomastoiditis with formation of calculi

Numerous calculi of varying sizes and shapes were discovered in the mastoid, antrum, and attic during mastoid surgery for persistent chronic suppurative inflammation of the middle ear cleft with retroauricular and external meatal fistulas in an 8-year-old boy. Light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic examinations and x-ray microanalysis revealed the calculi to consist of masses of crystals containing calcium-oxalate and calcium- and magnesium-phosphate. No signs of tuberculosis were found. Since the patient had multiple dysplasias, including ipsilateral macrotia, in addition to chronic otitis media and mastoiditis, it is suggested that the formation of the calculi may have been due to congenital predisposition.