Clinical outcomes of otogenic skull base osteomyelitis

Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is an uncommon and a potentially life-threatening condition if not promptly recognized and properly treated. The aim of our study was to present a 32-case series of patients diagnosed with SBO at a single center.

In this retrospective study, we reviewed the data of patients diagnosed with otogenic SBO between January 2011 and January 2020. 32 patients were enrolled in the study. SBO diagnosis was based on a combination of symptoms and physical examination, bone scan, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and pathologic examination findings. The following clinical data were collected during the follow-up period: types of antibiotics used, duration of antibiotic treatment, C-reactive protein level, presence of disease control, duration from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, and patient survival.

The mean follow-up period was 11 (1-110) months. The mean duration of antibiotic treatment was 115 (19-223) days. The mean C-reactive protein levels at the time of diagnosis and at the endpoint of follow-up were 3.05 (0.56-18.31) and 0.21 (0.03-33.61) mg/dL, respectively (P < 0.001). Disease control rate was 34.9% at 1-year and 83.7% at 5-year follow-up. Patient survival rate was 90.6% at 1- and 3-year follow-ups. At the endpoint of follow-up, three patients died. The mean durations from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis were 50 (5-360) and 90 (30-480) days in patients with the controlled disease and in those with the uncontrolled disease, respectively, at the endpoint of follow-up (P = 0.043).

Comprehensive assessment and aggressive treatment of patients exhibiting symptoms suggestive of SBO would help in the rapid diagnosis of otogenic SBO, resulting in an improvement in prognosis.