title: Malignant Otitis Externa - A Retrospective Study of 15 Patients Treated in a Tertiary Healthcare Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease of the external auditory canal. The study aimed at evaluating the demographic profile, coexisting disabilities, clinical presentations, and management of MOE.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of patients with MOE who were treated at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of our institution. The case records of patients treated between 2006 and 2013 for MOE were reviewed from the Medical Records Department of the hospital. The details were tabulated in a master chart, and the data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients with MOE were treated as inpatients at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of our hospital during the study period. Of these, 12 were males and three were females. Among the 15 patients, 14 were diabetic and one was non-diabetic. Earache was the most common symptom observed in all patients; edema and granulations in the ear canal was the most common sign observed in 12 patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 11 patients. All patients were managed medically with intravenous antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MOE is a rare but aggressive condition affecting the external ear, which is commonly observed in elderly diabetic individuals. Immune senescence may be the cause of MOE in elderly people. Pseudomonas is the most common causative organism isolated in this condition. Most of these patients can be managed with medical treatment; reserving surgery only for the removal of granulation tissue and for histopathological examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Karnataka, India. bvadish@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Vadisha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Ajaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Satheesh Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhandary
authors.forename: Rajeshwary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aroor
authors.forename: Shrinath D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kamath P
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saldanha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents