Bisphosphonate-associated ear canal osteonecrosis: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Few cases of bisphosphonate-associated ear canal osteonecrosis (BPECO) have been reported, and there are no established management strategies for the diagnosis or treatment of BPECO. Patients: A 71-year-old female who was taking alendronate for osteoporosis was initially diagnosed with left-sided otitis externa. However, a mass and wide-ranging destruction of the temporal bone were subsequently found on a computed tomography scan. The patient’s biopsy findings were suggestive of inflammatory granulation tissue and osteitis, but there was no evidence of malignancy. So, we diagnosed her with BPECO. After surgical debridement and the cessation of the alendronate treatment, the patient’s symptoms improved rapidly. Conclusions: BPECO is not a very well-known condition and so is often misdiagnosed. Diagnostic methods and treatments for BPECO should be established in future studies.

Keywords

• External ear canal
• bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis
• drug related side effect and adverse reactions