Clinical features of occult mastoiditis complicated with periphlcbitis of sigmoid sinus in children

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and principle of treatment of occult mastoiditis accompanied with periphlcbitis of sigmoid sinus in pediatrics. Result:Four cases, with a short-time acute otitis media history, complained of headache / retroauricular pain, with papillary swelling, diagnosed as occult mastoiditis accompanied with periphlcbitis of sigmoid sinus according to the results of the temporal bone CT and MR. All of them had normal tympanic membrane, normal pure tone threshold, but type B tympanogram. CT scan of temporal bone showed soft tissue shadow of mastoid process, bone destruction of sigmoid sinus wall, and nuclear magnetic enhancement suggested cystic lesion behind mastoid process. With the usage of sufficient amount and anti-inflammatory antibiotics of permeable brain barrier, mastoidectomy were performed as early as possible. All the postoperative pathology showed inflammatory granulation, and no recurrence happened during the follow-up periods of 12-18 months. Conclusion:Intracranial complications in occult mastoiditis should be taken into account, with contemporary acute otitis media history, headache/retroauricular pain, and papillary swelling. Temporal bone image examination and hearing test should be done timely. Once the diagnosis was confirmed, on the basis of anti-infection treatment, the operation should be done as early as possible to to open the mastoid and improve the ventilation drainage of middle ear.