Skull base osteomyelitis following a mastoidectomy.

Skull base osteomyelitis is a rare but life-threatening condition that is characterized by osteitis of the temporal bone and skull base. Although skull base osteomyelitis is recognized as a rare complication of malignant external otitis or middle ear infection, it may also occur following a mastoidectomy. We present a case of an 81-year-old woman who suffered severe otalgia with normal-looking EAC and tympanic membrane that developed six weeks following a canal wall up mastoidectomy. Otalgia was the only abnormal feature to suspect occurrence of skull base osteomyelitis.