Malignant otitis externa: Variability of clinical course and difficulties of diagnostics

Abstract

This paper shows the case of a 70-year-old diabetic patient who was admitted to the ORL and MFS clinic as an emergency case with the right ear otalgia, in the right mastoid extension, facialis paralysis and the right ear suppuration all of which lasted for a month before the hospitalization. On admission, the innitial diagnostics stated canal skin edema of the external hearing canal which made the eardrum impossible to visualize. Granulations at the bottom of the canal were visible. During the admission, the patient was submitted to conservative and surgical treatments which confirmed that it was the case of malignant otitis externa.