A 75-year old diabetic patient presents wain severe ear pain and granulation tissue at external auditory canal with facial nerve involvement. -The most likely diagnosis is:: (A) Malignant otitis externa, (B) Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, (C) Acute suppurative otitis media, (D) Chronic suppurative otitis media
Answer is A. Ans. a. Malignant otitis externa Presence of a painful lesion in the external ear with the evidence of granulation tissue and associated cranial nerve palsies (VII nerve) in a diabetic (or immunocompromised) patient suggest a diagnosis of malignant otitis externa