Deciding treatment end point in necrotizing otitis externa: validation of a standardized clinical response assessment strategy with positron emission tomography findings

Primary: To explore criteria for treatment endpoint in NOE. Secondary: To study correlation of inflammatory markers, Erythrocyte sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with disease status.

Prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary care hospital over two years (2021–2023) consisted 28 patients with NOE. Treatment culmination point was decided based on symptoms control and correlated with PET-scan findings. Clinical response was analysed with respect to the serum inflammatory markers and PET Scan findings.

There was fair degree of agreement between clinical resolution and resolution of findings on PET scan (kappa coefficient − 0.76 [95% CI; 0.40,1.00]). Inflammatory markers showed statistically significant decline with clinical resolution but failed to return to normal.

Decision to terminate treatment of NOE can be reliably made on clinical grounds in patients remaining asymptomatic for three weeks. Resolution of inflammation on PET scan is in congruity with the clinical remission .