Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T16:21:05.531Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Necrotizing external otitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus: computed tomography and high resolution magnetic resonance imaging in an AIDS patient

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Alberto Muñoz*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Radiodiagnóstico, Sección de Neurorradiología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Elena Martínez-Chamorro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Radiodiagnóstico, Sección de Neurorradiología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
*
Address for correspondence: A. Muñoz, Departamento de Radiodiagnóstico, Sección de Neurorradiología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Carretera de Andalucía Km. 5,4. 28041 Madrid, Spain. Fax: 34-1-390-82-68

Abstract

Most necrotizing (malignant) external otitis (NEO) occurs in diabetic patients and is commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We report an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patient with NEO caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in which computed tomography (CT) showed destructive petrous bone involvement and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ear discovered extensive soft tissue and facial nerve involvement. Dedicated MRI studies of the ear in this type of pathology provide new insights relating to nerve dysfunction, that cannot be obtained with CT.

Type
Radiology in Focus
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bennett, J. E. (1995) Aspergillus species. In Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 4th Edition. (Mandel, G. L., Bennett, J. E., Dolin, R., eds.), Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 23062311.Google Scholar
Brickley, L., Betts, R. F., Parkins, C. W. (1988) Atypical invasive external otitis from Aspergillus. Archives of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 114: 10241028.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chakers, D. W., Kapila, A., La Masters, D. (1985) Soft tissue abnormalities of the external auditory canal: subject review of CT findings. Radiology 256: 105109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cunningham, M., Yu, V. L., Turner, J., Curtin, H. (1988) Necrotizing otitis externa due to Aspergillus in an immunocompetentpatient. Archives of Otolarynology–Head and Neck Surgery 114: 554556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curtin, H. D., Wolf, P., May, M. (1982) Malignantexternal otitis: CT evaluation. Radiology 145: 383388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Denning, D. W., Follansbee, S. E., Scolaro, M., Norris, S., Edelstein, H., Stevens, D. A. (1991) Pulmonary aspergillosis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine 324: 654662.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grandis, J. R., Curtin, H. D., Yu, V. L. (1995) Necrotizing (malignant) external otitis: prospective comparison on CT and MR imaging in diagnosis and follow-up. Radiology 196: 499504.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hern, J. D., Almaeyda, J., Thomas, D. M., Main, J., Patel, K. S. (1996) Malignant otitis externa in HIV and AIDS. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 100: 770775.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lortholary, O., Meyohas, M. C., Dupont, B., Cadranel, J., Salmon-Ceron, D., Peyramond, D., Siniosin, D. (1993) Invasive aspergillosis in patients with acquired iminunodeficiency syndrome: report of 33 cases. American Journal of Medicine 95: 177187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin-Duvernevil, N. M., Sola-Martínez, M. T., Miaux, Y., Cognard, C. (1997) Contrast enhancement of the facial nerve on MRI: normal or pathological? Neuroradiology 39: 207212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, W. T., Sais, G. J., Frank, I., Gefter, W. B.,Aronchick, J. M., Miller, W. T. (1994) Pulmonary aspergillosisin patients with AIDS. Clinical and radiographic correlations. Chest 105: 3744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petrak, R. M., Pottage, J. C., Levin, S. (1985) Invasive external otitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in an immunocompromised patient. Journal of Infectious Diseases 151: 196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phillips, P., Bryce, O., Shepherd, J., Mintx, D. (1990) Invasive external otitis caused by Aspergillus. Review of Infectious Diseases 12: 277281.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reiss, P., Hadderingh, R., Schot, L. J., Danner, S. A. (1991) Invasive external otitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in two patients with AIDS. AIDS 5: 605606.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rubin, J., Curtin, H. D., Yu, V. L., Kamerer, D. B. (1990) Malignant external otitis: utility of CT in diagnosis and follow-up. Radiology 174: 391394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rubin, J., Yu, V. L. (1988) Malignant external otitis: insights into pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapy. American Journal of Medicine 85: 391398.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Strauss, M., Fine, E. (1991) Aspergillus otomastoiditis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. American Journal of Otology 12: 4953.Google ScholarPubMed
Weissman, J. L. (1996) Hearing loss. Radiology 199: 593611.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed