Malignant otitis externa

Description

Malignant otitis externa is a rare life-threatening infective complication of otitis externa. It is due in the majority of cases to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Organisms penetrate from the external ear canal into the surrounding deeper tissues resulting in osteomyelitis of the temporal bone and risks of damage to adjacent cranial nerves and septic thrombo-emboli to the brain. Advanced age, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression are risk factors.

Index terms

Malignant otitis externa
Necrotising otitis externa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis of the temporal bone

Exclusions from above levels

01 – Certain infectious or parasitic diseases
02 – Neoplasms
05 – Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases

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18 – Complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
19 – Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
22 – Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external causes

Sibling codes

AA00 – Abscess of external ear
AA01 – Cellulitis of external ear
AA03 – Otomycosis
AA04 – Perichondritis of external ear
AA0Y – Other specified infectious diseases of external ear
AA0Z – Infectious diseases of external ear, unspecified

Foundation entity

Malignant otitis externa – http://id.who.int/icd/entity/984580942

Allowed postcoordination axes

Part of: 10: Diseases of the ear or mastoid process