These documents were prepared by resident physicians for presentation and discussion at a conference held at The Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. No guarantees are made with respect to accuracy or timeliness of this material. M.D. Acute mastoiditis is rarely seen today. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, acute mastoiditis was the most common complication of acute otitis media and often resulted in death. The incidence has dropped significantly with the advent of antibiotics.
Acute mastoiditis is a natural extension of acute otitis media.
At the onset of infection, acute inflammation of the middle ear also involves inflammation of the mastoid air cells, which is not associated with bony resorption and must be differentiated from clinically significant mastoiditis. Temporal bone development is integral in the ability to develop this disease. The degree of pneumatization varies greatly in temporal bones. Infection, heredity, ventilation, environment, and nutrition all play a role in the pneumatization process. Inflammation that develops is easily passed through these contiguous pneumatized regions.