Malignant external otitis and osteomyelitis of the base of the skull.

If malignant external otitis is not treated properly and until all evidence of infection has disappeared, it is likely to recur either in the external auditory canal and/or in the bone marrow at the base of the skull. Unremitting headache is the only early symptom of the latter and may occur in the absence of any signs of local ear disease. A conductive hearing loss is the most common additional symptom and is caused by fluid in the middle ear. If not diagnosed and treated adequately and properly, the infectious process in the bone marrow involves the soft tissues at the skull base and results in a progressive paralysis of the lower cranial nerves. Treatment must be vigorous and continuous until the gallium scan is normal or shows great improvement (i.e., for a minimum period of 2 months). Intravenous antibiotics with a proven record of success and effectiveness against this organism are recommended, although newer antimicrobial agents give promise of being effective when administered orally.