ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculous otitis media is not commonly found nowadays, and therefore, the index of suspicion is often low. However, once contracted, it can cause significant morbidities, such as profound hearing loss, labyrinthitis, facial nerve palsy and so on, if early diagnosis and treatment are not performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the chronic otitis media patients who visited Masan Samsung Hospital from Jan. 1993 to Jan. 1996, 37 cases of pathologically proven tuberculous otitis media were retrospectively reviewed. And temporal bone computerized tomography (TBCT) of 14 cases of tuberculous otitis media were compared to those of chronic suppurative otitis media and choronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. RESULTS: 1) Classic clinical findings of the disease such as multiple perforation, painless otorrhea, young age are not consistent with the clinical findings reviewed here. 2) Unexpectedly severe hearing loss, facial paralysis, eroded malleus handle, polypoid granulation or necrotic debris in middle ear cavity were significant clinical features. 3) In TBCT findings, soft tissue density in the entire middle ear cavity, soft tissue density extension to superior external auditory canal, poor sclerotic change of mastoid air cell were more common than other types of chronic otitis media. 4) Most of cases were confirmed by operative specimen pathologically. 5) Delayed healing of postoperative wound and formation of granulation tissue suggested tuberculous otitis media. 6) Antituberculous chemotherapy provided effective means of treatment. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis by pathologic examination of biopsied tissue obtained at OPD was mandatory to avoid complication and postoperative morbidity. Postoperative specimen obtained from middle ear surgery must be confirmed pathologically.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cholesteatoma , Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 , Drug Therapy , Ear Canal , Ear, Inner , Ear, Middle , Early Diagnosis , Facial Nerve , Facial Paralysis , Granulation Tissue , Hearing Loss , Labyrinthitis , Malleus , Mastoid , Otitis Media , Otitis Media, Suppurative , Otitis , Paralysis , Retrospective Studies , Temporal Bone , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Computerized tomography (CT) is the method of choice in radiologic diagnostic evaluation of cholesteatoma, since it reveals the presence of soft tissue mass and erosion of bony structure. Also CT enable us to predict the route of cholesteatoma extension, so we hope to hypothesize the unknown pathogenesis of cholesteatoma indirectly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative CT and surgical treatment were performed on 80 patients with acquired cholesteatoma from 1996 to 1998 at otolaryngology department in Hanyang University Hospital. The charts and CT findings of the patients were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed according to types of cholesteatoma and its location and extension route. RESULTS: Pars flaccida cholesteatoma is the highest incidence of cholesteatoma and it is possible to predict the direction of progression of cholesteatoma using CT in most cases. Sensitivity of destruction of ossicles and semicircular canal in CT is over 96%. Incidence of obstruction of tympanic isthmus and eustachian tube is higher in pars flaccida cholesteatoma than in pars tensa cholesteatoma. CONCLUSION: Temporal bone CT is a very useful tool to evaluate the clinical characteristics and predict the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma by evaluating of extension route of it.