title: Casts and crusts of the tympanic membrane.
abstract: Casts and crusts of the tympanic membrane were removed from patients with previous otitis media. Casts are formed of adherent keratinocytes in a matrix of dried exudate. Detachment from the drumhead leaves the underlying epidermis intact. Casts are defined as those crusts that have detached spontaneously from the surface of the drum. A mechanism based on epithelial proliferation induced by inflammation within the middle ear, with subsequent keratinocyte retention and thickening, is proposed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000473:pathology*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins