title: Luc's abscess: the return of an old fellow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mastoiditis, subperiosteal abscess and sigmoid vein thrombosis are the most common suppurative complications of acute otitis media (AOM). Luc's abscess, a subperiosteal temporal collection, is an infrequent complication with a particularly benign course.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two children, aged 5 years, presented with AOM complicated by an atypical abscess deep to the temporalis muscle, with no evidence for mastoid or zygomatic arch involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomographic scan was performed in only 1 child. In both children, treatment included antibiotic therapy, grommet insertion, and local surgical drainage of the temporalis abscess. In addition, a cortical mastoidectomy was performed in the patient who did not undergo computed tomography, based on clinical assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical improvement, resolution of symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients recovered shortly following the surgical drainage. Mastoidectomy was poor in findings and was concluded as redundant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Luc's abscess is associated with relatively little morbidity and requires a more limited surgical intervention. Computed tomographic scan is of great value to evaluate the extent of the disease and prevent needless mastoidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Holon, Israel.
authors.forename: Inbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marom
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.forename: Yehudah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin; D002444:Cefuroxime