Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is a rare and complex infection that includes malignant external otitis and central skull base osteomyelitis.
Symptoms are often non-specific, and the disease typically progresses slowly, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment, as well as local or regional complications.
Management is not standardized and consists of medical treatment tailored to microbiological sampling results (antibiotic or antifungal therapy). Monitoring strategies and treatment modalities, particularly treatment duration, have not been standardized.
Given the rarity of these infections, it is currently very difficult to conduct prospective studies comparing different management approaches.