Luc’s abscess: two successive cases of a forgotten complication

Introduction: Luc’s abscess is a rare complication of acute otitis media, characterized by a collection beneath the temporal muscle. Its pathogenesis and optimal surgical management remain poorly defined, particularly in the absence of mastoid coalescence. Case report: We report the cases of two pediatric patients presenting with acute otitis media associated with temporal and zygomatic swelling. Computed tomography confirmed Luc’s abscesses with no radiological evidence of coalescent mastoiditis in either case. Both patients underwent surgical drainage and myringotomy with ventilation tube placement. One recovered after the initial procedure, whereas the other required a subsequent cortical mastoidectomy due to clinical deterioration. Discussion: These cases illustrate the variability in clinical course and support a stepwise surgical approach.