Patulous eustachian tube in long-term survivors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
This article reports on 21 long-term (10 years) survivors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, divided into 2 groups: those subjected to an inflation-deflation test and a clearance function test in a longitudinal study, and those receiving sonotubometry in a cross-sectional study. On the inflation-deflation test, 12 (55%) out of 22 ears had a patulous eustachian tube, and on sonotubometry, 10 (50%) out of 20 ears also revealed a patulous eustachian tube. Except for 4 ears with chronic otitis media, the ears had resolved to a normal eardrum appearance at 10 years postirradiation. The phenomenon might be attributed to both restoration of the impaired tubal function and the development of a patulous tube.
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
P W
PW
Cheng
Y H
YH
Young
P J
PJ
Lou
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013997:Time Factors