Acute otomastoiditis and its complications: role of CT.

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Abstract
Acute bacterial (suppurative) otomastoiditis [in humans] responds to antibiotic treatment; radiologic study is required only when there is clinical suggestion of coalescent mastoiditis, intracranial complications or an underlying chronic disease. Computed tomography (CT) is the method of choice for evaluating otogenic intra- or extracranial complications. CT scans can show stages of disease progression when infection has spread by way of soft tissue, blood and bone pathways into the dural venous sinuses, meninges, labyrinth, facial nerves, epidural and other intracranial spaces. When there is clinical suggestion of acute coalescent mastoiditis, a CT scan of the temporal bone can confirm the presence of rarefying osteitis, coalescence of the air cells and subperiosteal abscess.