Acute otitis media and radiographic findings in the mastoid air cell system.

The area of the mastoid pneumatization was measured planimetrically on lateral X-ray pictures of the ears of 232 patients with acute otitis media. In the present otitis media patients the mean size of the air cell system as a function of the age was similar to the values given in earlier investigations of "normal" populations. The size of the air cell system was classified as small, medium-sized or large as a function of the age based upon the mean +/- 1 S.D. There were 61 patients who had no previous history of otitis media. However, 10% of these patients had a small air cell system and only 15% a large cell system, which indicated that many had suffered from otitis media which had not been recognized. The size and clouding of the air cell system had a significant prognostic value with regard to healing and eventual outcome of the disease.