title: Subdural empyema and cerebellar abscess due to chronic otitis media.
abstract: The infratentorial variety of the subdural empyema, with or without coexisting cerebellar abscess, is a rare clinical entity that carries a high mortality rate. We briefly describe the case of a 49-year-old man presented with severe debility, fever and an obviously neglected chronic otitis media. The patient had refused surgical treatment several months ago. After admission, his level of consciousness began to deteriorate, and the radiological studies showed infratentorial subdural suppuration extending into the right cerebellar hemisphere, along with chronic pyogenic infection of the middle ear and the mastoid process. Radical mastoidectomy was performed first, followed by extensive right posterior fossa craniectomy. The two subdural collections and the cerebellar abscess were successfully evacuated. Subsequently, he received post-operative antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks. At follow-up, 10 months after surgery, his neurological recovery was complete except for a minor residual cerebellar dysfunction on the right. This unusual case highlights that in patients presented with severe intracranial complications of chronic otitis media, early diagnosis and radical surgical intervention may be life saving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina, Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Polyzoidis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vranos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Exarchakos
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korantzopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skevas
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002954:Citrobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents