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What Are Mastoid Cells?

Misty Wiser
Misty Wiser

Mastoid cells, sometimes called mastoid air cells, refer to the air pockets formed by the honeycomb-shaped bone structure of the mastoid process. A projection of a portion of the temporal bone in the skull, the mastoid process is located behind the ear. These cells may be of different sizes, depending on where they are positioned within the mastoid.

Very small mastoid cells are located in the apex or tip of the mastoid process and in the lower portion of the mastoid. Some of the smallest cells are filled with marrow. They are usually uniform in size and shape.

A mastoidectomy may be performed to remove infected mastoid cells that do not respond to antibiotics.
A mastoidectomy may be performed to remove infected mastoid cells that do not respond to antibiotics.

Large and irregularly shaped mastoid cells are often referred to as mastoid air cells. Pockets of air collect in the open spaces inside each of these big cells. Most large cells are found in the upper portion of the mastoid process, while the others are located toward the front of the bone.

A computerized tomography (CT) scan of the mastoid process reveals the air cells as small, dark spaces separated by lighter areas of dense bone cells. Inflamed or infected cells will appear as gray or white areas on the scan where the darkened spaces would be expected to be located. When these abnormal looking cells are present, they are called mastoid cell opacification.

Mastoid air cells are located in the space behind the eardrum.
Mastoid air cells are located in the space behind the eardrum.

Many people with acute otitis media (AOM), a middle ear infection, develop a condition called mastoiditis. Inflammation of the mastoid process can occur if the infection spreads beyond the middle ear. Bacteria can travel through the mastoid antrum, a small cavity lined with mastoid cells adjacent to the mastoid process, and begin to colonize.

Early symptoms of mastoiditis mimic a middle ear infection. The area behind the ear can swell and become painful to the touch. A person may develop a fever as the infection settles into the cells. Treatment for this painful condition usually requires a round of antibiotics and careful observation by a medical professional.

A mastoidectomy to remove mastoid cells will be performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
A mastoidectomy to remove mastoid cells will be performed with the patient under general anesthesia.

Infected mastoid cells that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics may need to be surgically removed. Due to the close proximity of the mastoid process to the brain, a non-responsive infection could lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain. A mastoidectomy is performed under general anesthesia and usually requires an overnight stay in the hospital for observation.

Infected mastoid cells that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics may lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain.
Infected mastoid cells that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics may lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain.

The simple mastoidectomy involves a small incision, through which a growth or infected area of mastoid cells are removed. A radical mastoidectomy removes nearly all of the mastoid process and may include the excision of small portions of some middle ear structures. The incision is then sutured together, and a regimen of antibiotics started to prevent an infection.

Discussion Comments

anon264830

These pieces of information are really helpful. But I would also like to ask, just to add to my curiosity, are the sizes of the mastoid process both in the left and right side of one person are the same always? If not, then in which cases do they differ? Is it a problem if these are not similar in shape and size?

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    • A mastoidectomy may be performed to remove infected mastoid cells that do not respond to antibiotics.
      By: fivepointsix
      A mastoidectomy may be performed to remove infected mastoid cells that do not respond to antibiotics.
    • Mastoid air cells are located in the space behind the eardrum.
      By: Von Schonertagen
      Mastoid air cells are located in the space behind the eardrum.
    • A mastoidectomy to remove mastoid cells will be performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
      By: Tyler Olson
      A mastoidectomy to remove mastoid cells will be performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
    • Infected mastoid cells that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics may lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      Infected mastoid cells that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics may lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain.
    • In most cases, treatment for mastoiditis involves the use of powerful antibiotic drugs.
      By: Monkey Business
      In most cases, treatment for mastoiditis involves the use of powerful antibiotic drugs.
    • A mastoidectomy usually requires an overnight stay in a hospital.
      By: vichie81
      A mastoidectomy usually requires an overnight stay in a hospital.
    • A computerized tomography scan will be used to take a closer look at the mastoid cells.
      By: Paylessimages
      A computerized tomography scan will be used to take a closer look at the mastoid cells.
    • Fever is a common symptom of meningitis.
      By: tab62
      Fever is a common symptom of meningitis.
    • Referred pain in the head, jaw or neck is common when there are problems with the mastoid cells.
      By: emde71
      Referred pain in the head, jaw or neck is common when there are problems with the mastoid cells.