Otogenic brain abscess--a case report.

Brain abscess is one of the life-threatening complications of otitis media. Mortality and morbidity have decreased with the advent of antibiotic therapy. More frequently encountered in cases of acute otitis media in the preantibiotic era, in recent years otogenic brain abscess was noticed almost only in patients of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. A case of brain abscess in a 49-year-old female was initially diagnosed as a headache. A high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of the temporal bones later revealed that there were two abscesses over the right side temporal lobe. A modified radical mastoidectomy was performed. Cultures of the middle ear cholesteatoma later grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Strenotrophomonas maltophilia. Antibiotic therapy was carried on for three months postoperatively. The patient improved but retained a conductive hearing loss.