Temporal bone histopathology in a patient suspected of inner ear extension of otitis media

We report the histopathological findings in the temporal bone of a 30-year-old female who died of cervical esophageal carcinoma. The temporal bone sections revealed severe bilateral suppurative labyrinthitis and otitis media that presumably occurred immediately before her death. Many inflammatory cells were present in the middle ear, particularly around the stapes and the round window niche. They had also infiltrated the inner ear via the annular ligament of the stapes and the round window membrane. Inflammatory cell accumulation was also observed in the peri- and endolymphatic spaces, and it was most severe in the basal turn. Most of the inner and outer hair cells were preserved, but some had degenerated or were missing. Numerous round cells were observed in the modiolus, and some of the spiral ganglion cells had degenerated. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that bacterial otitis media had extended in to the inner ear via the oval window and round window membrane and had resulted in suppurative labyrinthitis. These findings are consistent with those of stage II suppurative labyrinthitis according to the classification of Schuknecht.