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Radiology of acute mastoiditis and its complications: a pictorial review and interpretation checklist

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2019

M W Mather ,
P D Yates ,
J Powell  and
I Zammit-Maempel
M W Mather*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
P D Yates
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
J Powell
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
I Zammit-Maempel
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Michael W Mather, Institute of Cellular Medicine, 3rd Floor, Leech Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK E-mail: michael.mather@newcastle.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

Mastoiditis is an otological emergency, and cross-sectional imaging has a role in the diagnosis of complications and surgical planning. Advances in imaging technology are becoming increasingly sophisticated and, by the same token, the ability to accurately interpret findings is essential.

Methods

This paper reviews common and rare complications of mastoiditis using case-led examples. A radiologist-derived systematic checklist is proposed, to assist the ENT surgeon with interpreting cross-sectional imaging in emergency mastoiditis cases when the opinion of a head and neck radiologist may be difficult to obtain.

Results

A 16-point checklist (the ‘mastoid 16’) was used on a case-led basis to review the radiological features of both common and rare complications of mastoiditis; this is complemented with imaging examples.

Conclusion

Acute mastoiditis has a range of serious complications that may be amenable to treatment, once diagnosed using appropriate imaging. The proposed checklist provides a systematic approach to identifying complications of mastoiditis.

Keywords

MastoiditisRadiologyChecklistDiagnosisSuppuration

Information

Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 10 , October 2019 , pp. 856 - 861
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

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Footnotes

Mr M W Mather takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

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