Disease or Syndrome
mastoiditis
mas·toid·i·tis [ mas-toi-dahy-tis ]
Subclass of:
Osteomyelitis;
Otitis Media
Etymology:
Greek mastos = breast + eidos = resemblance + -itis = inflammation
Definitions related to mastoiditis:
-
Inflammation of the honeycomb-like MASTOID BONE in the skull just behind the ear. It is usually a complication of OTITIS MEDIA.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
-
Inflammation of the mucosal lining of the mastoid antrum and mastoid air cell system of the mastoid process.NCIU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection of the mastoid air cells, which typically occurs after acute otitis media. Symptoms include redness, tenderness, swelling, and fluctuation over the mastoid process, with displacement of the pinna. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment is with antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone, and mastoidectomy if drug...Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
-
A purist's definition of mastoiditis includes all inflammatory processes of the mastoid air cells of the temporal bone. As the mastoid is contiguous to and an extension of the middle ear cleft, virtually every child or adult with acute otitis media (AOM) or chronic middle ear inflammatory disease has mastoiditis.WebMD, 2025
-
Mastoiditis, inflammation of the mastoid process, a projection of the temporal bone just behind the ear. Mastoiditis, which primarily affects children, usually results from an infection of the middle ear (otitis media). Symptoms include pain and swelling behind the ear and over the side of the head...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> M
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.