Otogenic cerebellar abscess with cholesteatoma

Otogenic brain abscesses are the second-most common intracranial complication observed in patients of chronic otitis media, more frequently occurring with cholesteatoma. Due to the availability of antibiotics and advanced imaging techniques, the incidence and mortality of otogenic brain abscesses has reduced. Nevertheless, we still come across cases of otogenic brain abscess in modern times. Here, we report a case of the left ear chronic otitis media, squamosal type with intracranial complication of the left cerebellar abscess in a 14-year-old girl. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a thick-walled cystic lesion in the left cerebellar hemisphere measuring 41 mm × 28 mm × 26 mm suggestive of brain abscess. High-resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone showed soft-tissue density in the left mastoid air cells, in epitympanum, and mesotympanum encasing the left middle ear ossicular chain, suggestive of chronic otomastoiditis with possible underlying cholesteatoma. The patient underwent left retromastoid suboccipital craniotomy and excision of brain abscess followed by the left modified radical mastoidectomy 1 month later. Follow-up scan at 6 months showed no recurrence or any residual disease. Hence, timely surgical intervention for complicated chronic otitis media gives satisfactory results.