Acute otitis media and mastoid growth

Abstract

Conclusions. This study implies that the hypothesis that acute otitis media (AOM) in infancy inhibits the growth of the mastoid system cannot be accepted. Objective: To establish a relationship between AOM in children and their mastoid pneumatization development. Patients and methods. Lateral Schüller mastoid radiographs (LMRs) were measured in two groups of children at ages 2–11 years. Group A (n=116) had a history of recurrent AOM; group B (n=108) had no such history. Patients were treated in a private clinic. Data were analysed at Tel Aviv University. The patients had their LMR taken and measured planimetrically. LMR areas on left and right sides were compared in each group and age and were tested for possible differences using the paired Student's t test. When no left/right difference was detected, the values were averaged. Groups A and B were compared at different ages using two-tailed two-sample unequal variance and correlation coefficients. Results. The analyses show that the LMR area became gradually and significantly larger with age in group A (R2=0.858; p<0.05). It did not develop significantly in group B.