Malignant external otitis: The diagnostic value of bone scintigraphy

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine imaging
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Malignant external otitis (MEO) is a severe infection requiring accurate diagnosis.
• Early detection of MEO is crucial for effective treatment and preventing complications.
• Skull bone scintigraphy is a diagnostic imaging technique.

Observation:

• Technetium-99m Methylene Diphosphate bone scintigraphy (BS) was utilized in three patients diagnosed with MEO.
• Pathological radioisotope uptake was observed in the mastoid region during the early stages of MEO.
• This uptake provided updated radiologic findings for MEO.

Findings:

• Early-stage MEO shows radioisotope accumulation in the mastoid region via BS.
• The extent of radioisotope accumulation suggests tissue damage exceeding initial clinical estimations.
• Follow-up BS findings demonstrated a strong correlation with the clinical progression of MEO, indicating healing or extension.

Implications:

• BS can identify MEO in its early stages, even before significant clinical signs appear.
• The imaging technique offers a more comprehensive assessment of MEO-related tissue damage.
• BS serves as a valuable tool for monitoring treatment response and disease course in MEO patients.