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. 2018 Jun;56(2):106-110.
doi: 10.5152/tao.2018.3075. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Malignant Otitis Externa: A Retrospective Analysis and Treatment Outcomes

İsa Kaya  1 , Baha Sezgin  1 , Sevinç Eraslan  1 , Kerem Öztürk  1 , Sercan Göde  1 , Cem Bilgen  1 , Tayfun Kirazlı  1
Affiliations

Malignant Otitis Externa: A Retrospective Analysis and Treatment Outcomes

İsa Kaya et al. Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze previous treatments and outcomes in patients with malignant otitis externa (MOE) retrospectively. The efficacy of medical and surgical treatments was also evaluated.

Methods: This study included 25 patients diagnosed with MOE and treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ege University School of Medicine between 2006 and 2017. The duration of hospitalization, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of the patients, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), source of the infection, complications, and previous medical and surgical treatments were also retrospectively assessed.

Results: The mean age of the patients (7 females and 18 males) was 69.68±11.29 years. The mean length of hospital stay in patients with HbA1c levels ≤6 and in patients with HbA1c levels >6 was 26.86 and 33.39 days, respectively. The mean hospitalization time was significantly longer in patients with HbA1c levels >6 (p<0.05). Additionally, elderly patients (age>65 years) had a significantly longer hospital stay in our study (p<0.05). ESR was found to be 52.76±32.49 (9-108) mm/h at the first examination and 14.92±1.22 (4-32) mm/h at the time of discharge.

Conclusion: MOE is an aggressive disease that requires conservative management, and ESR proved to be a good indicator of treatment response. Long-term antibiotherapy are recommended for treatment.

Keywords: Malignant otitis externa; prognosis; temporal bone; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Computed tomography view of the patient with left malignant otitis externa
Figure 2
Figure 2
Magnetic resonance imaging view of the patient with bilateral malignant otitis externa
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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