Malignant Otitis Externa (MOE) causing cerebral abscess and facial nerve palsy

Malignant Otitis Externa (MOE) is a necrotizing infection of the external auditory canal characterized by extension into nearby soft tissue and bony structures that can potentially lead to mastoiditis, skull base osteomyelitis, cranial nerve palsies, and rarely, intracranial complications. MOE has been classically described as a disease affecting elderly diabetics and has been reported in immunocompromised patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), malignancy, patients receiving chemotherapy, and neutropenic children. The incidence of MOE in the general population is estimated to be quite low and difficult to determine. However, over the past decades, the number of reported cases has been increasing, suggesting increased awareness of this syndrome by primary care physicians.