Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) remains a challenge in the diagnosis and treatment. Tuberculosis otitis media (TBOM) is a rare and challenging form of EPTB due to its varied presentation and rare incidence. Early and timely diagnosis of TBOM is crucial for treatment. In this study, we sought to gain a better understanding of the varied clinical presentations and imaging diagnostic information for TBOM.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists and ENT clinicians should keep TBOM on the differential when a patient presents with treatment-resistant otitis media (ear infection that won't clear up), especially in TB-endemic regions or immunocompromised individuals; biopsy and microbiological testing are key to diagnosis.
TBOM is frequently misdiagnosed as routine otitis media, causing delays in appropriate anti-TB treatment and potential progression of hearing loss and ear damage.
- 01TBOM is a rare form of extrapulmonary TB that affects the middle ear.
- 02Its presentation varies widely, often mimicking common chronic ear infections.
- 03Diagnostic delay is a major clinical challenge due to its rarity and atypical symptoms.
- 04Definitive diagnosis typically requires microbiological or histopathological confirmation.
- 05Case-based studies are valuable for raising clinical awareness of this rare condition.
Tuberculosis otitis media is a rare and frequently misdiagnosed form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
studysupportedTBOM presents with varied clinical features that overlap with common otitis media, complicating diagnosis.
studysupported- PMID
- 42983344
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12879-026-14174-w.
- Journal
- BMC Infectious Diseases
- Publication type
- case_report
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Patients diagnosed with tuberculosis otitis media
- Intervention
- Diagnostic workup for tuberculosis otitis media
Primary outcomes
Clinical presentation patterns of TBOM; Diagnostic accuracy and time-to-diagnosis; Diagnostic challenges and pitfalls