An experimental investigation of the resolution of tympanometry for micro-perforations of the tympanic membrane.
Tympanometry is well established as a useful tool in the field of otological diagnosis. There have been sporadic reports, however, of bizarre tympanograms in the presence of small perforations of the tympanic membrane. A model of the outer and middle ears was fabricated which was able to produce normal and pathological tympanograms. This model was used to investigate tympanometry in the presence of microperforations. A hypothesis for the mechanism of generation of sawtooth tympanograms in the presence of micro-perforations is postulated.
McFerran
D J
DJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK. donmcferran@compuserve.com
Mitchell
T E
TE
Baguley
D M
DM
Moffat
D A
DA
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D004423:Ear; D004431:Ear, External; D004432:Ear, Middle; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis*