Tovi F, Gatot A, Lantsberg S
Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Hôpital Soroka, Université Ben-Gourion, Beer-Sheva, Israël.
Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac. 1995;112(6):275-8.
The term masked mastoiditis defines a subclinical infectious inflammatory process of the mucosal lining and bony structures of the mastoid air cells with an intact tympanic membrane. The disease follows an apparently well treated recent acute otitis media. Probably due to an anaerobic colonizing flora, the developing bone infection is of low grade without pus formation. The clinical features of the disease are not overt as those in coalescent mastoiditis. The intact ear drum does not reflect the severity of bone eroding disease which is characterized by non-exudative but proliferative changes. Hence there is no pus formation. The incidence of complications is high. Plain X-ray film and CT scan do not specifically define the disease process. Bone scan indicates the bone invading nature of the mastoid infection. The osteoblastic reaction secondary to osteitis is demonstrated by the high uptake of the isotope in the involved mastoid. Antibiotics may cure the disease process but in most of the cases surgery in unavoidable.
隐匿性乳突炎是指乳突气房黏膜内衬和骨质结构发生的亚临床感染性炎症过程，鼓膜完整。该病发生于近期看似已得到良好治疗的急性中耳炎之后。可能由于厌氧定植菌群，发展中的骨感染程度较轻，无脓液形成。该病的临床特征不像融合性乳突炎那样明显。完整的鼓膜并不能反映骨质侵蚀性疾病的严重程度，该疾病的特征是无渗出但有增殖性改变。因此没有脓液形成。并发症的发生率很高。普通X线片和CT扫描不能明确界定疾病过程。骨扫描可显示乳突感染的骨质侵袭性质。同位素在受累乳突中的高摄取显示了继发于骨炎的成骨细胞反应。抗生素可能治愈疾病过程，但在大多数情况下手术是不可避免的。
