Acute otomastoiditis and its complications: Role of imaging

The use of modern antibiotics in the 1940s to treat acute otitis media has significantly reduced the incidence of acute coalescent mastoiditis and otogenic intracranial complications. However, a small proportion (1%-5%) of untreated or inadequately treated patients may experience complications. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance scanning have proven exceedingly valuable in determining the extension of the middle ear and mastoid infections into the neighboring structures, and in particular for the evaluation of otogenic intracranial complications. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the important role of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in the evaluation of the otogenic intracranial complications.