| Description |
: |
Malignant otitis externa is an invasive and potentially fatal Pseudomonas infection. It originates in the external ear canal of patients who are diabetic or otherwise suffer from an immunologic deficiency, and may extend to involve adjacent areas of the temporal bone and the base of the skull. The initial symptoms are those of acute otitis externa, however, as the infection progresses, the pain, swelling, and discharge may grow worse and be followed by progressive involvement of the facial nerve and the lower cranial nerves. A fleshy granulation tissue polyp is arising from the posterior canal wall, just lateral to the isthmus of this elderly diabetic patient. |
