BENIGN NECROTIZING OSTEITIS OF THE EXTERNAL AUDITORY MEATUS

Benign necrotizing osteitis of the external auditory meatus is a rare condition which occurs in non-diabetic healthy people. The aetiology o f the necrotic process with the formation of sequestrum in the bony ex ternal meatus is unknown. It is important to differentiate this benign process from malignant otitis externa and radionecrosis of the tempor al bone as the management of these conditions differs. We present two cases, one managed surgically and the other medically, and review the literature. Immediate surgical excision of the sequestrum is advocated instead of long-term medical therapy and waiting for it to separate s pontaneously.