An International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Clinics

Register      Login

VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 2 ( Number, 2014 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

Skull Base Osteomyelitis Resulting in Petrous Internal Carotid Aneurysm

Suma R Radhakrishnan, Vijeyta Dahiya, Ellezhuthil Devarajan, K Ramachandran

Citation Information : Radhakrishnan SR, Dahiya V, Devarajan E, Ramachandran K. Skull Base Osteomyelitis Resulting in Petrous Internal Carotid Aneurysm. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2014; 6 (2):34-36.

DOI: 10.5005/aijoc-6-2-34

License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Published Online: 01-03-2012

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2014; The Author(s).


Abstract

Skull base osteomyelitis typically occurs most often as a complication of malignant otitis externa secondary to pseudomonas infection. Common risk factors are increasing age, diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression. If it happens in the absence of external otitis it is called atypical or central type. Medical management is the mainstay of treatment. Surgical management is for a diagnostic biopsy and in some for debridement. Described below is a case report of a 75 years old male patient who was diagnosed to have skull base osteomyelitis and was started on intravenous antibiotics. Following an initial improvement of symptoms, after 4 weeks he developed ear and oropharyngeal bleed. Imaging revealed a massive aneurysm of petrous internal carotid artery with multiple brain infarcts and before we could intervene the patient expired. This case emphasizes a rarity in skull base osteomyelitis and the need for early diagnosis and aggressive treatment.


PDF Share
  1. Malignant external otitis and osteomyelitis of base of skull. Am J Otol 1989 March;10(2):108–110.
  2. Atypical osteomyelitis of the skull base. Laryngoscope 1989;99(7):671–676.
  3. Ruptured petrous carotid aneurysm presenting with otorrhagia and epistaxis. Am J Otol 1991;12(9):378–383.
  4. Magnetic resonance imaging of petrous carotid aneurysms. J Neuroimaging 1996;6(7):177–179.
  5. The changing epidemiology of pseudoaneurysm. Arch Surg 1988;123(4):473–476.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.