Malignant external otitis: a radiographic-clinical correlation.

Malignant external otitis is an infectious process of the ear which may cause marked destruction of the surrounding bony structures. After evaluation of the plain skull films, mastoid series, temporal bone tomography, arteriography, and venography in nine cases of malignant external otitis, we divided the disorder into an early stage and late stage. The early stage is manifested by a soft tissue mass within the external canal or clouding of the mastoid air cells with no bone destruction. In the late stage, bone destruction may extend to the middle ear cavity, temporomandibular joint, and/or base of the skull. A correlation can be made between the clinical findings and these radiographic stages. Complex motion tomography is essential to appreciate the bone destruction in patients with late stage disease.