Extensive Acquired Cholesteatoma in Children: When the Penny Drops

Complications of otitis media - a potentially lethal problem still present

Introduction

It is an erroneous but commonly held belief that intracranial complications (ICCs) of chronic and acute otitis media (COM and AOM) are past diseases or from developing countries. These problems remain, despite improvements in antibiotic care.

Objective

This paper analyzes the occurrence and clinical characteristics and course of the main ICCs of otitis media (OM).

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 51 patients with ICCs from OM, drawn from all patients presenting with OM to the emergency room of a large inner-city tertiary care hospital over a 22-year period.

Results

80% of cases were secondary to COM of which the incidence of ICC was 0.8%; 20% were due to AOM. The death occurrence was 7.8%, hearing loss in 90%, and permanent neurological sequelae in 29%. Patients were 61% male. In the majority, onset of ear disease had occurred during childhood. Delay of diagnosis of both the initial infection as well as the secondary ICC was significant. ICCs included brain abscess and meningitis in 78%, and lateral sinus thrombosis, empyema and otitic hydrocephalus in 13%, 8% and 1% of cases, respectively. Twenty-seven neurosurgical procedures and 43 otologic surgery procedures were performed. Two patients were too ill for surgical intervention.

Conclusion

ICCs of OM, although uncommon, still occur. These cases require expensive, complex and long-term inpatient treatment and frequently result in hearing loss, neurological sequelae and mortality. It is important to be aware of this potentiality in children with COM, especially, and maintain a high index of suspicion in order to refer for otologic specialty care before such complications occur.

[Clinical and pathological features of cholesteatoma in young children]

INTRODUCTION

Children cholesteatoma have been shown to demonstrate aggressive growth with greater extension and higher rates residual and recurrent disease compared with adults, due to anatomic and physiologic differences.

AIM

This study aimed to determine the clinical and pathological features of cholesteatoma in young children less than 7 years of age.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective review of a group of 23 children (24 ears) who had cholesteatoma surgery between 1996 and 2004. Patients ages ranged from 1.8 to 7 years, follow up from 3.5 to 12 years (mean 7.4). Medical history (previous otorrhea, hearing loss) and contralateral ear status was analyzed. The extent of cholesteatoma and ossicular destruction for attic, pars tensa I and pars tensa II type and congenital of cholesteatoma was graded using of Saleh and Mills classification. Residual and recurrent disease depending on type of cholesteatoma, extent of the disease, type of surgery and contalateral ear status was assessed.

RESULTS

Otorrhea and hearing loos are the most common clinical symptoms observed in 90% and 59% children. 70% of treated children had otitis media with effusion and/or its sequel in contralateral ear. 60% of acquired cholesteatomas were classified as S3 and S4 extension during surgery with ossicular destruction in 46% of attic cholestatoma. 75% operated ears had a signs of mucosa inflammation during surgery. Residual cholesteatoma was observed in 38.5% ears with attic cholesteatoma and in 25% with pars tensa I cholesteatoma.

CONCLUSION

Acquired cholesteatoma in young children are diagnosed in the advanced stages with ossicular chain destruction. High rate of recidivism after surgery, particularly in attic cholesteatomas is observed. Most of operated ears have symptoms of inflammation of middle era mucosa during surgery and otitis media with effusion in contralateral ear and because of that need long-term follow up and constant observation.

New horizons: otitis media research in Australia

Otitis media affects nearly all children worldwide. Despite an enormous amount of research, our understanding of this common condition continues to be challenged. New pathogens involved in otitis media are still being identified. The importance of interactions between viral and bacterial infection and the role of new vaccines need to be clarified. The proposal that bacteria can become more resistant to therapy through biofilm formation and intracellular infection could have important implications for treatment. The most important clinical research findings have been summarised in systematic reviews. In developed countries, research supporting "watchful waiting" of otitis media with effusion and acute otitis media have had most impact on evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Indigenous Australian children remain at risk of more severe otitis media. Research programs targeting this population have been well supported. Unfortunately, interventions that can dramatically improve outcomes have remained elusive. For children at high risk of otitis media, health care services should concentrate on accurate diagnosis, antibiotic treatment of suppurative infections, and scheduled follow-up of affected children. Despite the lack of recent studies, strategies to minimise the impact the hearing loss associated with otitis media are important. Improvements in education, hygiene practices, and living conditions are likely to reduce the incidence and severity of otitis media. Studies of these types of interventions are needed.