Mastoiditis natural history, complications and prognosis

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Mastoiditis Microchapters

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Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Mastoiditis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

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CT

MRI

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Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

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Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

The consequences of mastoiditis have been reduced after introduction of antimicrobial agents and adequate therapy of acute otitis media. However mastoiditis has not been omitted completely and may give rise to sever complications. The incidence of mastoiditis complications are differs from 4% to 16.6% in the multiple studies.[1],[2],[3], [4]

mastoiditis complication may be classified to extracranial and intracranial as in below table:

extracranial complications Osteomyelitis Mastoid infection may spread to other parts of the skull which leads to osteomyelitis.

Petrositis is petrous bone osteomyelitis, which could be as a part of Gradenigo’s syndrome (retro-orbital pain, otorrhea, abducens nerve palsy, and acute or chronic otitis media)

Labyrinthitis
Facial nerve palsy
Sinus sigmoid thrombosis
Bezold abscess This abscess is a neck abscess under the digastric and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Clinical features of Bezold abscess include swelling and tenderness below the mastoid process and under the sternocleidomastoid muscle.[5]
Hearing loss
Subperiosteal abscess
Intracranial complications Epidural and subdural abscess fever, otalgia, cephalgia, and reduced general condition. An altered mental status in combination with an AM could also be a sign of intracranial complication
Meningitis
Temporal bone or brain abscess
Venous sinus thrombosis
Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis is a rare complication of AM [54]. Sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, and spontaneous nystagmus are pathbreaking for its diagnosis. Nevertheless, the diagnosis could be very challenging in childhood. Therapy depends on removing the inflammatory focus by mastoidectomy and PC.

Petrositis

Today, this complication is rare but could be part of Gradenigo’s syndrome (retrobulbar pain, abducens nerve palsy, and ipsilateral acute or chronic otitis media) [54], [63]. A combined therapy of mastoidectomy (including the opening of mastoid cells in the petrous apex) with high-dose intravenous (i.v.) antibiotics is sufficient [54].

Facial palsy

Facial palsy is also a rare complication of AM. In addition to antibiotics, a prompt surgical management consisting of mastoidectomy and PC is indicated. Further, decompression of the mastoid portion of the nerve and steroids are recommended [38]. In cases of facial palsy as a complication of AOM without secure signs of AM, a PC and ventilation tubes (VT) are advisable. If there is no improvement within 3 days, a mastoidectomy is indicated [64].

Sinu sigmoideus thrombosis

This complication could be asymptomatic or become clinical if a thrombotic obstruction of the internal jugular vein leads to an increased intracranial pressure. The diagnostic tool of choice is a MRI-angiography [62]. Therapeutically, the sinus is exposed from the sinus-dura angle to the mastoid tip during the mastoidectomy. In cases of sepsis or suspicion of thrombosis, the sinus is punctured. If there is sign of thrombosis, the sinus is opened and the thrombosis evacuated. Further, the sinus should be obliterated with muscle or Surgicel [2]. Surgical removal of the thrombus is nowadays controversial. Some authors recommend in these cases heparin [54], [65]. In cases of sepsis, a transcervical ligation of the internal jugular vein is recommended [54].

Intracranial complications

. The diagnosis of an intracranial complication could be very challenging. The most common symptoms are fever, otalgia, cephalgia, and reduced general condition. An altered mental status in combination with an AM could also be a sign of intracranial complication [54], [61]. The diagnostic method of choice is CT or MRI. The two radiological techniques are regarded as equally effective [54], [56], [61]. The treatment of choice is mastoidectomy combined with antibiotics that penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), such as ceftriaxone. An epidural abscess can be drained during the mastoidectomy. The treatment of a brain abscess should be interdisciplinary, including neurosurgery [2].

Prognosis

References

  1. Go C, Bernstein JM, de Jong AL, Sulek M, Friedman EM (2000). "Intracranial complications of acute mastoiditis". Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 52 (2): 143–8. PMID 10767461.
  2. Katz A, Leibovitz E, Greenberg D, Raiz S, Greenwald-Maimon M, Leiberman A, Dagan R (2003). "Acute mastoiditis in Southern Israel: a twelve year retrospective study (1990 through 2001)". Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 22 (10): 878–82. doi:10.1097/01.inf.0000091292.24683.fc. PMID 14551488.
  3. Oestreicher-Kedem Y, Raveh E, Kornreich L, Popovtzer A, Buller N, Nageris B (2005). "Complications of mastoiditis in children at the onset of a new millennium". Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol. 114 (2): 147–52. doi:10.1177/000348940511400212. PMID 15757196.
  4. Benito MB, Gorricho BP (2007). "Acute mastoiditis: increase in the incidence and complications". Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 71 (7): 1007–11. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2007.02.014. PMID 17493691.
  5. Leskinen K (2005). "Complications of acute otitis media in children". Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 5 (4): 308–12. PMID 15967073.

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