Luc's abscess--a rare complication of middle-ear infection.

A case of subperiosteal temporal abscess of otitic origin is presented. This is an unusual complication of otitis media. The pathogenesis of Luc's abscess is different from other extracranial complications of middle-ear infections in that it is not associated with mastoid infection which results in subperiosteal pus formation. Based on our experience and the reports from the turn of the century, we present the presumptive pathogenesis and clinical features. We contend that these patients run an unexpectedly benign course, and require concomitantly more conservative treatment than other otitic abscesses.