Objective: The aim of this study is to review the outcome of pediatric patients suffering from acute mastoiditis treated conservatively and to correlate this to the evolution of our understanding of the shift in which mastoiditis has been transformed from a surgical to a medial disease.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review patient files hospitalized in our tertiary-care center between 2005-2008. We examined the data concerning the infection which included: presenting signs/symptoms, prior otologic history, treatment (including both surgical and conservative) prior to hospitalization and during hospitalization, computed tomography (CT), hospital duration, complications and overall outcome.