Roles of an anti-tuberculosis medication and surgery in patients with tuberculous otitis media.
CONCLUSIONS
The standard treatment for tuberculous otitis media (TOM) without complications consists of anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) medication, with which we experienced good treatment outcomes. However, surgery is required for recovery of anatomy and hearing function.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical characteristics of TOM that might optimize diagnosis and to evaluate the differences in clinical courses between patients treated with and without surgery.


METHODS
We analyzed 14 patients (16 ears) who had been diagnosed and treated for TOM. Radiologic findings, laboratory data, and audiometry results were also evaluated. Patients were divided into a chemotherapy group and a surgery group according to treatment modality.


RESULTS
Temporal bone CT (TBCT) showed total occupation of the tympanic cavity by soft tissue and little evidence of ossicular erosion. In the chemotherapy group, dry ears were obtained in all but one patient (14 ears) after treatment. Normalized tympanic membrane (TM) was found in 50% in the chemotherapy group and in 75% in the surgery group. The air-bone gap (ABG) changed from 40.3 +/- 2.5 dB to 47.0 +/- 19.2 dB in the chemotherapy group and from 35.2 +/- 7.6 dB to 30.2 +/- 11.4 dB in the surgery group. After treatment, ABG improved by > 10 dB in one ear in the chemotherapy group and in four ears in the surgery group.
Kwon
Minsu
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
Seung Hyo
SH
Chung
Jong Woo
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D000995:Antitubercular Agents