Malignant external otitis: a case report and review
Evans P, Hofmann L
American Family Physician. 1994 Feb 1;49:42731: Issue: 2
It characteristically involves the bone and adjacent cartilaginous structures, and it may
lead to osteomyelitis of the base of the skull. It typically occurs in elderly
diabetic patients. Malignant external otitis can cause severe pain, necrosis of
the external auditory canal and progressive palsies of the facial and cranial nerves. Treatment
consists of debridement of external auditory canal granulation tissue and longterm
therapy with an antipseudomonal Cephalosporin or an antipseudomonal penicillin plus an
aminoglycoside.