Bakht Zada, Khurshid Anwar, Mumtaz Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad Khan.
The Frequency of Otogenic Intracranial Complications in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media with Cholesteatoma.
Pak J Neuro Surg Jan ;15(1):19-23.

Objectives: 1. To determine the frequency of otogenic intracranial complications in chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma. 2. To discuss the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with otogenic intracranial complications.Study Design: It was a prospective, descriptive and cross – sectional study using convenience sampling technique.Materials and Methods: This was a combined study conducted in the ENT Department of Postgraduate Medical Institute, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar and the ENT Department of Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan over a period of 3 years from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. Cases presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma were studied and the frequency of otogenic intracranial complications occurring in these cases was calculated.Results: A total of 85 cases were studied. The ages of the patients ranged from 8 to 40 years. All the patients had chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma. The commonest complaint in cases with suspected intra-cranial complications was deep seated earache followed by persistent headache. Meningitis and extradural abscesses were the commonest intracranial complications. The frequency of intracranial complications in our study was found to be 11.76%.Conclusion: Otogenic intracranial complications due to cholesteatoma continue to pose a significant risk to the patients. High index of suspicion is essential for diagnosis and skilful management of otogenic intracranial comp-lications. Early recognition is possible and these cases should be managed in close collaboration with a neuro-surgeon.

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