title: Traumatic cholesteatoma presenting as a brain abscess: a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the clinical aspects and management of traumatic cholesteatomas of the temporal bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, tertiary referral center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors describe an uncommon case of otogenic brain abscess resulting from an infected cholesteatoma arising from an old temporal bone fracture line involving the external auditory canal in an otherwise healthy 21-year-old man. The patient was successfully treated with brain abscess drainage, tympanomastoidectomy, and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors recommend long-term follow-up in any patient with a longitudinal or mixed temporal bone fracture with low threshold for obtaining temporal bone computer tomography imaging for any new otologic complaints. Traumatic cholesteatomas complicated by brain abscess should be treated with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy and aggressive surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Medical College of Virginia Hospitals and Physicians, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. mmajmundar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kshitij
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Majmundar
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sismanis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010462:Peptostreptococcus; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014433:Tympanoplasty