What is pneumatization of mastoid cells?

Concomitantly with growth, air cells develop in the normal mastoid by a process termed “pneumatization.” This process is governed by vital and anatomic factors, the influence of which causes each mastoid to attain an individual cell pattern which differs from that of its mate and is sufficiently characteristic for …

What are the types of mastoid air cells?

Agger nasi, Haller’s cells and Onodi cells are some variants described. The mastoid pneumatization and its measurement has also been studied earlier [3, 4].

What is the pathophysiology of mastoiditis?

The pathophysiology of mastoiditis is straightforward: bacteria spread from the middle ear to the mastoid air cells, where the inflammation causes damage to the bony structures.

What does opacification of mastoid air cells mean?

Mastoid air cell opacification can occur in a number of situations and can include a spectrum of inflammatory, neoplastic, vascular, fibro-osseous, and traumatic changes. Possible causes include: otomastoiditis. acute otomastoiditis. chronic otomastoiditis.

What is chronic mastoiditis?

Mastoiditis (acute and chronic) is a bacterial infection of the mastoid cells in the mastoid bone, which is located just behind the ear. Mastoiditis can become serious if the infection spreads outside the mastoid bone. Symptoms of acute mastoiditis include: Pain in or behind the ear. Swelling of the area behind the ear.

What is coalescent mastoiditis?

Acute coalescent mastoiditis (also called “ acute mastoid osteitis”) is defined by the acute form of destruction of the thin bony septae between mastoid air cells. It may be followed by the formation of abscess cavities and the dissipation of pus into adjacent areas.

What do you mean by mastoid?

Mastoid: The rounded protrusion of bone just behind the ear. The mastoid was once thought to look like a breast (hence its name).

What is the use of mastoid air cells?

The mastoid air cells are thought to protect the delicate structures of the ear, regulate ear pressure and possibly protect the temporal bone during trauma. When the mastoid cells become infected or inflamed, often as a result of an unresolved middle ear infection (otitis media), mastoiditis can develop.

What is the best antibiotic for mastoiditis?

Antibiotic selection should provide good intracranial penetration and MDRSP coverage. With the high frequency of invasive resistant strains in mastoiditis, initial therapy of intravenous vancomycin and ceftriaxone is most appropriate until results of the culture and sensitivity studies are available.

What bacteria causes mastoiditis?

Mastoiditis usually occurs when untreated or inadequately treated acute otitis media spreads from the middle ear into the surrounding bone—the mastoid process. Most mastoid infections are caused by pneumococcus bacteria.

What happens if mastoiditis is left untreated?

If left untreated, mastoiditis can cause serious, even life-threatening, health complications, including hearing loss, blood clot, meningitis, or a brain abscess. But with early and appropriate antibiotic treatment and drainage, these complications can usually be avoided and you can recover completely.

How quickly does mastoiditis develop?

Mastoiditis can begin after symptoms of an ear infection seem to have cleared up. It may also appear as a progressively worsening ear infection. When a person develops new symptoms within a few weeks of an ear infection, a doctor may assess them to see if they have mastoiditis.

How are mastoid cells related to skeletal pneumaticity?

The mastoid cells are a form of skeletal pneumaticity. Infection in these cells is called mastoiditis. The term “cells” refers to enclosed spaces, not cells as living, biological units. A section of the mastoid process will show it to be hollowed out into a number of spaces which exhibit great variety in their size and number.

Is the mastoid part of the temporal bone pneumatized?

The mastoid portion of the temporal bone has a pneumatic structure similar to that of the paranasal sinuses. While pneumatized paranasal structures have developed phylogenetically because of multiple functional needs, 1 however, the functional roles of the mastoid are discussed less in the literature.

When does the mastoid become pneumatized or aerated?

Occasionally they are entirely absent and the mastoid is solid throughout. At birth, the mastoid is not pneumatized, but becomes aerated before age six. The air cells are hypothesised to protect the temporal bone and the inner and middle ear against trauma and to regulate air pressure.

How are air cells developed in a mastoid?

Concomitantly with growth, air cells develop in the normal mastoid by a process termed “pneumatization.” This process is governed by vital and anatomic factors, the influence of which causes each mastoid to attain an individual cell pattern which differs from that of its mate and is sufficiently characteristic for actual identification.