Chronic suppurative otitis media refers to the chronic suppurative inflammation of the mucosa and periost, or the deep-located substance of the bone of middle ear. It often coexists with the complication of chronic mastoiditis. Clinically, the disease is characterized by prolonged or intermittent pyorrhea, perforation of the tympanic membrane and hypoacusis. Severe intracranial and extracranial complications may arise in some patients with chronic suppurative otitis media to endanger their lives.

The disease is due to delayed or improper treatment of acute suppurative otitis media which has eventually changed into chronic disease. Or it is the direct continualion of acute necrotic otitis media. Nasal and pharyngeal foci are the important pathogenic factors as well. The commonly-seen suppurative bacteria include Bacillus proteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, of which the mixed infection of more than two bacteria is often possible.

Clinically, the disease is divided into three types: simple, carious and cholesteatomatous ones.The pathological changes of simple inflammation mainly lie in the mucous layer of the tympanic cavity. The pathological changes of carious type exist deep in substance of bone and necrosis may occur in auditory ossicles, tympanic ring, and antrum tympanicum, etc. A cystic structure forms inside the middle ear and mastoid cavity in the patient with cholesteatomatous type.