CD68 and chronic purulent otitis media: In CSOM patients, CD3 levels (mastoid: median (IQR) 19.8 (3.1–86.3); middle ear: median (IQR) 6 (0.2–54.4)), CD20 (mastoid: median (IQR) 18.6 (0.4–52.3); middle ear: median (IQR) 17.8 (0–107)), and CD68 mastoid (median (IQR) 9 (2.4–23.5) and middle ear (median (IQR) 4.2 (1.4–9.9)), lymphocytes (mastoid: median (IQR) 44.7 (11–75.2); middle ear: median (IQR) 41 (10.4–67.2)), and histiocytes (mastoid: median (IQR) 24.3 (11.3–62.8); middle ear: median (IQR) 27.5 (3.0–61.2)) were significantly elevated (p < 0.01) compared to controls, where they were largely absent.