title: Laser myringotomy for otitis media with effusion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of laser myringotomy in otitis media with effusion (OME) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser myringotomy was performed with a CO 2 laser otoscope in 53 NPC patients (68 ears) and 32 non-NPC patients (37 ears). All patients had a history of OME.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the NPC group, 40% of ears developed persistent perforation, 37% had recurrent OME, and 23% were free of disease. In the non-NPC group, only 3% of ears developed persistent perforation, and 43% were free of disease. Significant differences in perforation and disease-free state were evident between the 2 groups. Tumor stage was found to be a significant determining factor for clinical outcome in NPC group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser myringotomy for NPC group carries a significantly higher risk of persistent perforation and lower rate of cure. This procedure may be considered for early staging NPC patients with serious OME symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. cfhwang@seed.net.tw
authors.forename: Chung-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chih-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Hsin-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jyh-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hsueh-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chih-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009225:Myringoplasty; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery*