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Panel Presentations

Otology/Neurotology

When the Ear Won’t Stop Draining: Management of Persistent Otorrhea

Saturday, October 11, 2025
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM EDT
Location: Wabash Ballroom 3
CME/MOC Credit: 1
Disclosure(s):
Kevin Albert Peng, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Calhoun D. Cunningham, MD, III:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Marc K. Bassim, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Samuel P. Gubbels, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Persistent and/or recurrent otorrhea may present a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma to both the general otolaryngologist and otologist. The goals of this panel presentation are to provide a practical approach to the evaluation and management of problematic ear drainage in the adult patient. The differential diagnosis will be discussed, including common etiologies such as cholesteatoma, refractory otitis externa, and chronic otitis media, in addition to less prevalent causes such as cerebrospinal fluid leak, skull base osteomyelitis, fungal infections, and autoimmune conditions and vasculitides. Case presentations will be used to illustrate the decision-making process behind initial medical therapies, the utility of imaging, and the role of surgical intervention.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the differential diagnosis of persistent otorrhea
  2. Discuss appropriate imaging in differentiating between etiologies of persistent otorrhea
  3. Recognize when surgical intervention is indicated for persistent otorrhea

    Moderator(s)

  • Kevin Albert Peng, MD

    Surgeon, Associate Program Director
    House Ear Clinic
    Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • Calhoun D. Cunningham, III, MD

    Associate Professor
    Duke University Medical Center
    Raleigh, NC, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Marc K. Bassim, MD

    Section Head Otology and Neurotology
    Cleveland Clinic
    Cleveland, OH, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Samuel P. Gubbels, MD

    Associate Professor
    University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus
    auror, CO, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.