The computed tomographical and tympanometrical evaluation of mastoid pneumatization and attic blockage in patients with chronic otitis media with effusion.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relation between mastoid size and attic blockage in COME patients treated with ventilation tube insertion and prognosis regarding tympanometric compliance and computed tomography findings of temporal bones.


METHODS
Twenty-four ears of 15 patients with chronic otitis media with effusion were selected prospectively. The ages of patients were between 5 and 13 years old and eight of them were females. All patient received medical treatment for 10 days. Ventilation tubes were inserted with or without adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy to the unimproved patients. Postoperative compliances were measured on first day, first week, and first month and the tympanometric results were compared each one with others and with mastoid pneumatization degree using computerized tomographic findings.


RESULTS
The hearing thresholds were between 23 and 43 dB in left ears and between 22 and 45 dB in right ears. Mastoid pneumatization and aditus were normal and open in three (12.6%); sclerotic and open in eight (33.3%); sclerotic and blocked in 13 patients (54.1%), when the temporal bones assessed by computerized tomography. The mean compliance values of patients elevated postoperatively in regard with time and this increase was significant. There was a significant statistical relation between mastoid pneumatization and compliance of the ears.


CONCLUSIONS
Tympanometric assessment may be considered as a valuable and cost-effective method rather than CT in the evaluation of aditus blockage and residual soft tissue of the tympanomastoid region.
Görür
Kemal
K
University of Mersin, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mersin 33079, Turkey. kgorur@mersin.edu.tr
Ozcan
Cengiz
C
Talas
Derya Umit
DU
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed