title: Panel 2: Eustachian tube, middle ear, and mastoid--anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pathogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report reviews the literature to identify the advances in our understanding of the middle ear (ME)-Eustachian tube (ET) system during the past 4 years and, on that basis, to determine whether the short-term goals elaborated in the last report were achieved and propose updated goals to guide future otitis media (OM) research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases searched included PubMed, Web of Science (1945-present), Medline (1950 to present), Biosis Previews (1969-present), and the Zoological Record (1978 to present). The initial literature search covered the time interval from January 2007 to June 2011, with a supplementary search completed in February 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  The panel topic was subdivided; each contributor performed a literature search and provided a preliminary report. Those reports were consolidated and discussed when the panel met on June 9, 2011. At that meeting, the progress was evaluated and new short-term goals proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progress was made on 16 of the 19 short-term goals proposed in 2007. Significant advances were made in the characterization of ME gas exchange pathways, modeling ET function, and preliminary testing of treatments for ET dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the future, imaging technologies should be developed to noninvasively assess ME/ET structure and physiology with respect to their role in OM pathogenesis. The new data derived from form/function experiments should be integrated into the finite element models and used to develop specific hypotheses concerning OM pathogenesis and persistence. Finally, rigorous studies of treatments, medical or surgical, of ET dysfunction should be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. dswarts@pitt.edu
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Swarts
authors.forename: Cuneyt M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Alper
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luntz
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bluestone
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Samir N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ghadiali
authors.forename: Dennis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Poe
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tideholm
mesh_terms: D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012107:Research Design