A Bezold's Abscess Secondary to Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Bezold's abscess is a rare neck abscess that appears as a complication of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). CSOM is a chronic infection of the middle ear and mastoid cells that progresses to a laterocervical abscess due to a suppurative process that erodes the mastoid cortex along the digastric ridge and spreads between the digastric and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Recommended treatment includes intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics and complete surgical excision of the mastoid and neck pathology.

Case report: This case report discusses a 15-year-old female patient who developed a Bezold abscess as a complication of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), which was drained using a trans-cervical approach, in contrast to other cases of Bezold abscess that were treated with a trans-mastoid approach for abscess drainage.

Conclusion: Bezold abscess drainage can be done through a single incision approach transmastoid or a separate incision approach transcervical if the abscess collection is located in the lower part of the neck.

Keywords: Bezold's abscess, CSOM, Abscess drainage, Transcervical, Transmastoid