[Malignant otitis externa].

Malignant otitis externa represents a special form of inflammatory alteration of the external ear. The inflammation can spread to surrounding bones (temporal bone, skull base - to the foramen magnum), as well as to neighbouring tissue, such as the parotid gland, the temporo-mandibular joint and soft tissue near the skull base. Most patients are elderly, latent or manifest diabetics. The causative organism was always proved to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The disease is called "malignant" because of its high mortality rate. Decreasing this mortality is possible - as demonstrated in 6 patients - via early diagnosis, sufficient surgery, as well as local and systemic antibiotics.