Differential diagnosis of complications of pediatric mastoiditis

• Local complications
  — Coalescent mastoiditis
  — Bezold abscess
• Intracranial complications
  — Sinogenic abscess (including meningitis, cerebritis, subdural empyema, epidural empyema)
  — Dural venous sinus thrombosis

Approach to the differential diagnosis of complications of mastoididits:

• Mastoiditis is the most common complication of acute otitis media
• In patients with clinical evidence of advanced acute mastoiditis, consideration should be given to imaging:
  — The neck for evidence of coalescent mastoiditis and Bezold abscess
  — The brain for evidence of meningitis, intracranial abscess, subdural / epidural empyema
  — The deep venous system for evidence of dural venous sinus thrombosis