Aggressive Tuberculous Otitis Media in a Young Child

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this report is to describe an aggressive case of tuberculous otitis media in a young child and emphasize that surgical intervention and histopathologic studies can be employed to immediately arrive at a definitive diagnosis.
 Methods:
 Design: Case Report
 Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital
 Participants: One 
 Results: This is a case of a four-year-old boy who had refractory otitis media and erosive CT scan findings, mimicking aggressive CSOM manifestations. Due to unusual intraoperative granulation tissue characteristics, it was initially considered a malignancy, necessitating surgical intervention and biopsy that resulted in a definitive diagnosis of primary middle ear tuberculosis.
 Conclusion: This case represents the more severe end of the spectrum of tuberculous otitis media and supports the recommendation that a high index of suspicion, early detection, and prompt initiation of treatment are imperative in its management, especially in children with refractory otitis media.
 Keywords: tuberculous otitis media; tuberculosis; middle ear; otitis media; suppurative otitis media