두개골 기저부를 침범한 악성 외이도염 1례

Malignant external otitis is a potentially life-threatening infection of the external auditory canal and skull base, typically seen in elderly diabetic or immunocompromised patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the bacteria most commonly responsible for the infection. The disease process begins as an external otitis that may progress into an osteomyelitis of the skull base. Cranial nerve palsies may occur as the disease progresses, and in some cases, sigmoid sinus thrombosis and meningitis have resulted in death. Treatment requires intensive longterm antibiotic therapy with routine radiographic evaluations to monitor the disease process. Despite this, resistance to antibiotic therapy can occur, resulting in recurrence of the disease that may be associated with a high in-cidence of mortality.¹⁾ We have recently experienced one case of malignant external otitis with skull base extension in a 54-year-old male who was treated with open cavity mastoidectomy and long-term antibiotic therapy, and report this case with review of literatures. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2000;11:115–119)