ResearchPUBMEDMar 26
[A rare cause of otitis externa : Manifestation of myeloid sarcoma in the petrous bone].
A 45-year-old man had ear canal swelling and an ear infection that wouldn't go away with normal treatment. Doctors performed surgery but didn't find the cause at first. After more testing, they discovered the real problem: cancer cells from a blood disease called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had come back and were growing in the bone behind his ear.
WHY IT MATTERSThis case shows that persistent ear infections that don't respond to standard treatment could be a sign of leukemia relapse, meaning AML patients with unusual ear symptoms need urgent investigation beyond typical infection treatment.