Acute on-chronic middle ear disease.
The discharging ear is a common presenting symptom to GPs and otologists. The commonest causes are otitis externa and otitis media. Less common is cholesteatoma, which presents with a chronic offensive mucopurulent discharge and deafness. Acute mastoiditis as a presenting symptom of cholesteatoma is rare and, with the introduction of antibiotics, the incidence has declined even further. We present three cases of cholesteatoma presenting as mastoiditis.
Ghufoor
K
K
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
Diver
J
J
O'Flynn
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000175:diagnosis*