Fungal Osteomyelitis of Temporomandibular Joint and Skull Base Caused by Chronic Otitis Media

Abstract

Chronic otitis media (COM) is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects the middle ear, mastoid cavity. It presents hearing loss, ear pain, dizziness, headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation and intracranial complication. Intracranial complications such as skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) may occur secondary to COM due to transmission of infection by a number of possible routes. SBO is an uncommon condition with a significant morbidity and mortality if not treated in the early stages. We report a-67-year-old male patient with diabetes and untreated COM who presented atypical severe TMJ, periorbital and postmandibular pain. By computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole body bone scan (WBBS), he was diagnosed with SBO spreading from untreated COM via infective arthritis of TMJ. Through this case, we suggest proper utilization of diagnostic imaging, especially CT or MRI for the early detection of SBO in the case of COM accompanying with the greater risk of infection developments such as diabetes.