title: Early diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media.
abstract: In an area endemic for pulmonary tuberculosis, 23 of 192 histological specimens from chronic suppurative otitis media proved to be tuberculous. A personal or family history of tuberculosis was present in 75 per cent of the patients. A pre-operative diagnosis was made in six out of 23 patients, but middle ear mucosal biopsy and aural polypectomy provided a histological diagnosis in 30 and 35 per cent respectively. It is suggested that, when tuberculosis of the middle ear is a possibility, initial surgery for chronic suppurative otitis media should be minimal and directed towards obtaining a tissue diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Odetoyinbo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*