A Child With a Bulging Hyperemic Tympanic Membrane

A 5-year-old girl with a history of autism presented to an outside emergency department with a 10-day history of otitis media and recent fevers. She was eventually transferred to our hospital after a computerized tomographic (CT) scan was performed showing potential clinically significant ear abnormalities. On evaluation, the patient had a bulging, hyperemic left tympanic membrane, along with fullness of the postauricular, upper cervical region. Facial nerve function was intact. No focal neurologic deficits or meningeal signs were observed. A CT scan of the temporal bones with contrast was performed at our facility (Figure). Axial CT scan A Axial CT scan B Axial CT scan C