title: Management of osteomyelitis of the skull base.
abstract: Osteomyelitis of the skull base is the most severe form of malignant otitis externa. As a result of having treated 13 patients with skull base osteomyelitis over a 4-year period, we have developed a method of staging and monitoring this malady using gallium and technetium scanning techniques. Stage I is localized to soft tissues, stage II is limited osteomyelitis, and stage III represents extensive skull base osteomyelitis. All stages are treated with appropriate antipseudomonal antibiotics. The duration of therapy depends upon the clearing of inflammation as shown on the gallium scan. Each case must be looked at independently and not subjected to an arbitrary treatment protocol.
authors.affiliation: Otologic Medical Group, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Benecke
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D010406:Penicillins; D013667:Technetium