Publication date: Jun 27, 2025
Tuberculous otitis media (TOM) is a rare form of chronic otitis media, which presents diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms. To characterize the clinical features and identify strategies for early diagnosis. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 32 patients (40 ears) diagnosed with TOM between 2002 and 2024. Clinical, audiologic, radiologic, and laboratory findings were reviewed. Mean diagnostic delay was 28. 9 months. Persistent otorrhea (90%) and hearing loss (HL) (100%) were predominant. Tympanic membrane findings varied: single perforation (70%), multiple (12. 5%), and intact (17. 5%). Granulations were universal. Age stratification revealed conductive HL and pneumatized mastoids predominated in patients 40 years (p = 0. 016, p = 0. 005). Bone destruction was evident in 25% of the cases. Mastoid type correlated with HL patterns in non-destructive cases (p = 0. 040). Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed relatively high detection rates. Early suspicion of TOM in refractory/recurrent otitis media, combined with IGRA/PCR screening, prompt imaging, and consideration of age-specific patterns, facilitates timely diagnosis. Surgical biopsy remains critical for confirmation. Integration of age-stratified clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings improves detection accuracy and patient outcomes.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| 40years | Early diagnosis |
| Alarm | extrapulmonary tuberculosis |
| Bone | mastoid |
| Otolaryngol | otitis media |
| Polymerase | tuberculosis |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | otitis media |
| disease | MESH | hearing loss |
| pathway | REACTOME | Release |
| disease | IDO | assay |
| disease | MESH | extrapulmonary tuberculosis |
| disease | MESH | tuberculosis |
| pathway | KEGG | Tuberculosis |