Skull Base Osteomyelitis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in Atypical Presentation

There is high morbitity and mortality associated with skull base osteomyelitis. In partially treated cases of malignant otitis externa, atypical symptoms and findings of unilateral severe otalgia, unremitting headache, and presence of high ESR, unilateral OME, constitute diagnostic clues of skull base osteomyelitis. Such cases require further investigation with CT, MRI, Technetium 99 and gallium 67 scintigraphy and aggressive management.