Evidence-based medicine requires a critical appraisal of the literature based upon study methodology and number of subjects. Not all references are equally robust. The findings of a large, prospective, randomized, and blinded trial should carry more weight than a case report.

To help the reader judge the strength of each reference, pertinent information about the study, such as the type of study and the number of patients in the study, will be included in bold type following the reference, where available. In addition, the most informative references cited in this paper, as determined by the authors, are noted by an asterisk (*) next to the number of the reference.

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3. Schwartz LE, Brown RB. Purulent otitis media in adults. Arch Intern Med. 1992;152(11):2301-2304. (Review)
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28. * Waldvogel D, Mattle HP, Sturzenegger M, et al. Pulsatile tinnitus-a review of 84 patients. J Neurology. 1998;245(3):137- 142. (Retrospective; 84 patients)
29. Krishnan A, Mattox DE, Fountain AJ, et al. CT arteriography and venography in pulsatile tinnitus: preliminary results. Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;27(8):1635-1638. (Prospective; 16 patients)
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32. Bolt P, Barnett P, Babi FE, et al. Topical lignocaine for pain relief in acute otitis media: results of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial. Arch Dis Child. 2008;93(1):40-44. (Randomized, controlled; 63 patients)
33. Foxlee R, Johansson A-C, Wejfalk J, et al. Topical analgesia for acute otitis media. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;3:CD005657. (Systematic review)
34. * Spiro DM, Tay K, Arnold DH, et al. Wait-and-see prescription for the treatment of acute otitis media: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;296(10):1235-1241. (Randomized, controlled; 283 patients)
35. Marcy MS. Management of acute otitis media. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2000;(15):1-4. (Meta-analysis)
36. * Thompson PL, Gilbert RE, Long PF, et al. Effect of antibiotics for otitis media on mastoiditis in children: a retrospective cohort study using the United Kingdom general practice research database. Pediatrics. 2009;123(2):424-430. (Retrospective database; 2.6 million patients)
37. Cohen R, Levy C, Boucherat M, et al. Five vs. ten days of antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media in young children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2000;19(5):458-463. (Randomized, controlled; 450 patients)
38. Cohen R, Levy C, Boucherat M, et al. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of 5 versus 10 days of antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media in young children. J Pediatr. 1998;133(5):634-639. (Randomized, controlled; 385 patients)
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40. Pichichero ME, Marsocci SM, Murphy ML, et al. A prospective observational study of 5-, 7-, and 10-day antibiotic treatment for acute otitis media. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;124(4):381-387. (Randomized, controlled; 2172 patients)
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45. Cannon SJ. External otitis: controlled therapeutic trial. Eye Ear Nose Throat Mon. 1970;49(4):186-189. (Prospective)
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