Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings before and after treatment of patients with malignant external otitis.

The aim of our prospective study is to illustrate the role of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and delineation of the extent of disease in malignant external otitis (MEO) at presentation and following successful treatment. The study was performed at Tertiary academic referral center. We included 18 patients (16 males and 2 females; age, 49-79 years; mean, 65.3 years) with a clinical diagnosis of MEO in this study. CT and MRI were performed at presentation. Follow-up CT and MRI were performed after 6 and 12 months in 12 successfully treated patients. The main outcomes are CT scan and MRI findings. Results show that all patients were known to have diabetes mellitus. We present the patients' demographic and clinical data. All patients received local treatment as well as the intravenous 3rd generation antibiotic cephalosporin for at least 6 weeks. The detailed radiological findings were reported. In conclusion, MEO is predominantly a disease of diabetic males and MEO can be managed by the control of diabetes, local treatment, and intravenous antibiotics for a long period. CT and MRI play complementary roles in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with MEO. The extension of the disease before treatment and its disappearance from the involved areas are usually characteristic.