Clinical Spectrum of Tuberculosis Otitis Media (TBOM) and Management Outcomes

To determine the initial clinical diagnoses of patients with tuberculous otitis media (TBOM), to determine the value of PCR test, biopsy, and ancillary diagnostic procedures in detecting middle ear TB infection, and to establish the differences in treatment outcomes.

The clinical records of twenty-eight patients identified with middle ear TB infection by PCR test and biopsy, from January 2010 to December 2016, were reviewed to determine their initial clinical diagnoses. The positivity rates of PCR test and biopsy were compared. The records of 12 patients included in a previous publication were revisited and included in the present study population. The combined cases were classified according to clinical diagnosis to constitute a summary of demographic characteristics, clinical diagnoses, laboratory tests, and treatment outcomes. Results of diagnostic and surgical procedures were reviewed and analyzed. Clinical findings and hearing test results before and after treatment were compared.

Of the 28 patients, eight different clinical diagnoses of patients confirmed with middle ear TB were determined. PCR test diagnosed most cases belonging to the early and chronic stages of the disease process. Biopsy diagnosed mostly the chronic cases but failed to diagnose acute cases and late cases with diagnosis of chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma. By including the twelve cases that were published in 2011, the range of clinical diagnoses was expanded and an outcome of eleven clinical diagnoses confirmed with TB infection was established. Analysis of treatment outcomes showed that the clinical and hearing outcomes were better for patients managed at the early stage of the disease than for those presenting at the late stages of the disease process who underwent more complicated surgical procedures.

Our study supports the concept of tuberculous otitis media (TBOM) clinical spectrum, implying a paradigm shift in the established thinking that TBOM presents only as a chronic disease. The combined use of PCR and biopsy is a potential diagnostic tool to improve case detection rate, further broaden the scope of the clinical spectrum, and develop better control and preventive strategies for TBOM.