DIAGNOSTIC-CRITERIA FOR PROGRESSIVE NECRO TIZING EXTERNAL OTITIS - ARE SCINTIGRAPHY FINDINGS RELIABLE

OBJECTIVES: Determine the role of 99m technetium scintigraphy for diag nosis in progressive necrotizing external otitis and assess the diagno stic criteria of this disease. METHOD: A retrospective study was condu cted in 16 patients hospitalized for suspected progressive necrotizing external otitis. Patient characteristics, clinical features, imaging findings and disease course were recorded in order to evaluate the cla ssical criteria of diagnosis. RESULTS: The clinical course and complem entary test results showed that 99m technetium scintigraphy lacked spe cificity for progressive necrotizing external otitis. These findings a re in disagreement with those reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: Patient characteristics and clinical course are key elements for early diagnosis of this disease. Scintigraphy findings are contributive onl y when bone lysis (which occurs late) can be evidenced. A prospective study would be required to confirm the lack of specificity oi scintigr aphy in progressive necrotizing external otitis. (C) 1998, Masson, Par is.