title: Imaging of complications of acute mastoiditis in children.
abstract: Acute mastoiditis is a serious complication of acute otitis media in children. Suppurative disease in the mastoid region occasionally spreads to the adjacent dura mater of the posterior and middle cranial fossae and the sigmoid sinus by means of thrombophlebitis, osseous erosion, or anatomic pathways, producing intracranial complications. Computed tomography (CT) should be performed early in the course of the disease to classify the mastoiditis as incipient or coalescent and to detect intracranial complications. On the basis of the clinical features and imaging findings, the disease is managed conservatively with intravenously administered antibiotics or treated with mastoidectomy and drainage plus antibiotic therapy. CT is therefore a decisive diagnostic tool in determining the type of therapy. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging is performed in patients with clinical symptoms or CT findings suggestive of intracranial complications because of its higher sensitivity for detection of extraaxial fluid collections and associated vascular problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Radiology, Area Materno-infantil, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Psg Vall d'Hebron 119-129, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain. evazquez@cs.vhebron.es
authors.forename: Elida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castellote
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piqueras
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mauleon
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Creixell
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pumarola
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Figueras
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carreño
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucaya
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D010000:Osteitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D010579:Petrous Bone; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed