Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025
Treatment with Vancomycin Loaded Calcium Sulphate and Autogenous Bone in an Improved Rabbit Model of Bone Infection
Published on: March 14, 2019
Extensive Base of Skull Osteomyelitis: Why Does It Still Occur?
Siti Hajar Noordiana1,2, Emilia Rosniza Mohammed Rusli3, Zara Nasseri4
1Otorhinolaryngology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras, MYS.
Abstract:
Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is a rare yet serious intratemporal infection that often masquerades as a skull base malignancy. It is most common in diabetic and immunocompromised patients. We present a case of an elderly diabetic patient with end-stage renal disease with progressive malignant otitis externa. The disease progressed to involve the base of the skull, causing multiple cranial neuropathies. Early initiation of intravenous (IV) antibiotics, along with supportive treatment, may improve the long-term prognosis of the disease. This case highlights the importance of keeping a high index of diagnostic suspicion for SBO in patients with risk factors. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can drastically decrease morbidity and mortality due to SBO.
Insights
Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO), a rare infection, can mimic cancer. Prompt diagnosis and IV antibiotics in at-risk patients, like this diabetic elder with kidney disease, are crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is a rare but severe intratemporal infection.
- It frequently presents as skull base malignancy, particularly in diabetic and immunocompromised individuals.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into ...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
01:08Overview of the Skull
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...