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Malignant external otitis with optic neuritis
Author(s) -
Holder Clinton D.,
Gurucharri Michael,
Bartels Loren J.,
Colman Marc F.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198609000-00015
Subject(s) - skull , otitis , medicine , temporal bone , blindness , optic nerve , optic neuritis , neuritis , anatomy , surgery , immunology , optometry , multiple sclerosis
Malignant external otitis(MEO) is a progressive necrotizing infection which spreads to the skull base. The causative organism is usually Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 90% of the patients are diabetic. The infection gains access to the skull base at the temporal bone. Cranial nerve involvement is common. We present a case of malignant external otitis causing blindness due to optic neuritis. Progressive vascular involvement along the skull base is the pathogenic mechanism that best explains spread from the temporal bone to the orbital apex.