Mediterr. J. Otol 2008; 4:(1)

Facial nerve paralysis, labyrinthine fistula and brain abscess due to chronic otitis media:  Case report

Murat Topak, Tunis Özdoğanoğlu, A. Aslı Şahin-Yılmaz, Fulya Güzelderen, Mehmet Külekçi

Taksim Educational and Research Hospital, Otolaryngology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey, aslisahin@hotmail.com

Despite the availability of new antibiotics, chronic otitis media can still lead to major complications in developing countries. Except for mastoiditis, it is rare to see more than one complication in one patient simultaneously. We present the case of a 21 year old female who presented with facial nerve paralysis, labyrinthine fistula and brain abscess due to chronic otitis media. It is emphasized that preoperative findings such as facial nerve canal defect and labyrinthine fistula should raise the suspicion of the possibility of development of further and more serious complications such as abscess of the brain.