Wednesday, February 25, 2009

IAC Pathology

MASTOIDITIS

GENERAL INFORMATION
The pathology for the IAC portion I have chosen to do is Mastoiditis which sounds pretty painful. Mastoiditis is exactly what is sounds like. It is the inflammation of the mastoid air cells that are in the temporal bone. Someone can have acute or chronic mastoiditis. Chronic mastoiditis usually is latent and does not show up for a while. It is usually associated with a tumor of the squamous epithelium called cholesteatoma formations. These tumors will cause the epithelium to grow and change the function of the tissue and bone.

CAUSES OF MASTOIDITIS
Some causes of mastoiditis come from strands of bacteria. Some of them include: Hemophilus Influenzae, Staphylococci, and pneumococcus. Mastoiditis most commonly comes from chronic otitis media which is an inflammation of the middle ear. When the otitis media becomes severe, it starts to affect the mastoid air cells and starts to inflame them as well.

SYMPTOMS
Some of the symptoms of mastoiditis first of all is aches and pains around the mastoid area.
Fever could possibly be a symptom, but it will not be very high. Possible hearing loss could develop as it began to grow more serious, and also edema in the tympanic membrane is a significant sign of mastoiditis.
DIAGNOSIS
Ways to diagnose if someone has mastoiditis, is to either to a CT or MRI scan. CT images will appear more clearer, but most of the time MRI's will be preferred. If worse comes to worse they could potentially do an exploratory surgery to figure out the problem.

TREATEMENT
Mastoiditis can be prevented by taking antibiotics when receiveing an ear infection, or seeking medical attention promptly. If mastoiditis is suspected, the patient should be admitted into the hospital so tests can be run and they should have IV fluids of antibiotics for 24-48 hours.







MRI Axial T2 Weighted Image of Mastoiditis

MRI Diffusion Weighted Image of Mastoiditis

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