question #18 with pic

[md90]

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/jpegvh/VHF1135R.jpg
A 70 year old female has had a severe headache for several days. A lumbar puncture is performed and there are many neutrophils in the cerebrospinal fluid. A gram stain of the CSF reveals gram positive clusters of cocci. Which of the following conditions in the structure identified here (left lower area around black) probably led to these findings:
1. Bell's palsy
2. giant cell arteritis
3. mastoiditis
4. eosinophilic granuloma
5. septic embolization













Answer #3: mastoiditis, why? The mastoid air cells can become infected from a middle ear infection, and the infection can then spread to the meninges to produce a meningitis. The findings in this case are typical for a Staphylococcus aureus meningitis. With antibiotic therapy of ear infections, mastoiditis is uncommon.

[jotkk]

can u pl tell which area is shown in the pic?


thanks

[md90]

can u pl tell which area is shown in the pic?

Look to the left, then down.. will see the cross-section of the outer ear; look just slightly to the right... will see two black areas, focus on the bigger black area with the reddness around it; that is the area that relates to the question.

It is within the temporal area around the area where the mastoid bone would be located... leading to the answer.

I apologize for not having arrows on the picture. I had them before I copied them onto the valuemd thread but they disappeared once it was copied, and I don't know how to place arrows here on valuemd. If anyone knows how, please let me know... thank you.

[solideliquid]

can u pl tell which area is shown in the pic?


thanks

With the options available you don't really need a picture.

[sahilajmal]

Very helpful. Thanks a lot for posting it and keep it up. It really helps.