Differentiating mastoiditis from other diseases

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mehrian Jafarizade, M.D [2]

Overview

Mastoiditis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause postauricular inflammation or swelling such as lymphadenopathy, periauricular cellulitis, auricle perichondritis, mumps, and mastoid tumors. These diseases may be distinguished from mastoiditis via clinical findings and laboratory testing.

Differentiating Mastoiditis from other Diseases

Mastoiditis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause postauricular inflammation or swelling.

Disease	Clinical findings		Laboratory findings
	History and symptoms	Physical examinations
Mastoiditis	History of otitis media Posterior ear pain	Local erythema and tenderness and edema on the mastoid bone Outward and upward displaced auricle Abnormal tympanic membrane	Leukocytosis High erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be present
Enlarged lymph node	Well defined and mobile mass No inflammatory signs	No effect on auricle and tympanic membrane	Leukocytosis may be present High erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be presented or may be normal
Periauricular cellulitis	History of a minor bite or minor trauma commonly exists Pain and redness in the site	Tympanic membrane is normal.	Leukocytosis may be present High erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be present
Perichondritis of the auricle	Swelling and erythema of the pinna	The postauricular crease is preserved The tympanic membrane appears normal.	Leukocytosis may be present High erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be present
Mumps	Parotid glands swelling Inflammation and pain present	Tympanic membrane is normal	Mild leukocytosis may be present
Mastoid tumors	Painless mass No inflammation	Tympanic membrane is normal	Normal white blood cell count Normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate