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Suggest Treatment For Meningitis While Having Cholesteatoma
Question: I have cholesteatoma and can't get surgury done until XXXXXXX and I am currently out of work ..do you think I should be worried about this I herd you can get meningitis and I'm afraid I may get it in the next 4 weeks while I'm waiting and if I do get it from what I herd it's pretty much a death sentence....what should I do??
Brief Answer:
Brain involvement is less likely in a month but please get a CT scan done
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your qquery in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. I have many patients with cholestetoma regularly and they come to me to get evaluated for the risk of infection being transmitted from the middle ear to the brain.
2. After doing a CT scan of temporal bones, we get the exact information on the size of the cholesteatoma and if the infection has crossed to the brain. There is a bone separating the middle ear from the brain. When this bone is destroyeddue to cholesteatoma then early surgery is recommended to avoid meningitis and brain abscess.
3. In your case, if you do not have any brain symptoms then it is less likely that your cholestatoma is going to involve the brain until your surgery. It is however recommended that you get a CT scan temporal bone done and disucss it with your doctors.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Brain involvement is less likely in a month but please get a CT scan done
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your qquery in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. I have many patients with cholestetoma regularly and they come to me to get evaluated for the risk of infection being transmitted from the middle ear to the brain.
2. After doing a CT scan of temporal bones, we get the exact information on the size of the cholesteatoma and if the infection has crossed to the brain. There is a bone separating the middle ear from the brain. When this bone is destroyeddue to cholesteatoma then early surgery is recommended to avoid meningitis and brain abscess.
3. In your case, if you do not have any brain symptoms then it is less likely that your cholestatoma is going to involve the brain until your surgery. It is however recommended that you get a CT scan temporal bone done and disucss it with your doctors.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I actually did have a CT scan done after I had a tube put in my ear and that didn't relive any pain or pressure so that is when the doctor did a CT scan which came back abnormal there is a small mass in or around my middle ear that's who we found out I had cholesteatoma so now I'm waiting to be seen by a specialist and I'm out of work due to some vertigo and ear discomfort .....so you don't think that meningitis should be a factor at this time then your saying??? I mentioned this to my doctor and they said it is rare for it to spread into the brain but I don't know if they are just trying to shut me up lol
Brief Answer:
It is likely that you do not have risk of meningitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
1. When a CT scan is done in cholesteatoma cases, we specifically look for any communication between the middle ear and the brin.
2. If there is no mention about such extension of the cholesteatoma to the brain in your CT scan then you do not have it.
3. It takes some time for the infection to reach the brain and it is likely that you do not have this problem. This is probably the reason why your doctors are not in a hurry to do the surgery.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
It is likely that you do not have risk of meningitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
1. When a CT scan is done in cholesteatoma cases, we specifically look for any communication between the middle ear and the brin.
2. If there is no mention about such extension of the cholesteatoma to the brain in your CT scan then you do not have it.
3. It takes some time for the infection to reach the brain and it is likely that you do not have this problem. This is probably the reason why your doctors are not in a hurry to do the surgery.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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