Acute otomastoiditis in the leukemic child

We report three leukemic children undergoing chemotherapy who presented severe otomastoiditis with sensorineural hearing loss. They all developed a sub-total perforation of the tympanic membrane within a few days and one child sustained necrosis of the middle ear mucosa and diffuse destruction of the mastoids. Hearing tests showed severe sensorineural hearing loss in the ears affected. The evolution of the disease is reminiscent of a preantibiotic era pathology known as "acute necrotizing otitis media". A management program is proposed for the treatment of otitis media in leukemic patients receiving chemotherapy.     

Temporal bone histopathology in chronically infected ears with intact and perforated tympanic membranes.

Chronic suppurative otitis media has been clinically defined as a chronic discharge from the middle ear in the presence of a perforation of the tympanic membrane. However, irreversible tissue pathology in the middle ear or mastoid can occur behind an intact tympanic membrane. One hundred forty-four human temporal bones with chronic otitis media were divided into two groups: those with perforated (28) and those with nonperforated (116) tympanic membranes. The histopathological findings of their middle ears were compared. Granulation tissue in various degrees was the most prominent pathological feature. It was observed in 96% of temporal bones with perforation of the tympanic membrane, and in 97% of those without perforation. Also found were ossicular bony changes (96% with perforation; 90.5% without), middle ear effusion (93% with perforation; 89% without), cholesterol granuloma (21% with perforation; 12% without), cholesteatoma (36% with perforation; 4% without), and tympanosclerosis (43% with perforation; 20% without). This study shows that the histopathological changes of the middle ear are similar in temporal bones with and without perforation of the tympanic membrane. The clinician should, therefore, be aware that an intact tympanic membrane does not necessarily preclude the presence of gross pathological changes of the middle ear cleft.     

Epidemiologic patterns in childhood hearing loss: a review

In an attempt to clarify international epidemiologic trends, a review of the published literature pertaining to childhood hearing loss is presented. Inconsistencies of methodology and classification, which complicate the interpretation of data and make difficult the quantification of the influence of genuine population differences, are discussed. Selective review of the literature allows certain crude statements to be made regarding childhood hearing loss. In developed countries, serous otitis media is the most common cause of hearing loss in children, affecting up to two thirds of preschool children. In addition, 1.0-2.0/1000 children have bilateral SNHL of at least 50 dB. In underdeveloped countries, suppurative middle ear disease is common and is still frequently associated with either an intratemporal or intracranial complication. SNHL appears to occur almost twice as often as in developed countries, with a greater proportion being of infectious etiology. In specific populations, the Inuits, Amerindians and Aboriginals, acute and chronic suppurative otitis media are almost endemic, yet both cholesteatoma and serous otitis media are uncommon.     

Tuberculous chronic otitis media. A clinical case

Tuberculous otitis media is a rare cause of chronic suppurative infection of the middle ear and mastoid. Patients typically have chronic tympanic membrane perforation and ear discharge associated with progressive, profound hearing loss, and resistance to antibiotic treatment. Diagnosis is often delayed by a low clinical suspicion, thus leading to complications such as irreversible hearing loss and facial nerve paralysis. Histological examination of a biopsy specimen reveals tuberculous changes. The disease is treated with antituberculosis agents.     

中耳胆脂瘤研究进展

中耳胆脂瘤是耳鼻咽喉科较为常见的一种慢性中耳疾病,长期外耳道流脓、鼓膜穿孔、听力下降为其主要特点,它对周围组织具有侵袭性,易引起中耳传音结构的破坏和骨质吸收,进而引起面瘫、迷路炎、耳后骨膜下脓肿及各种颅内外并发症。中耳胆脂瘤的病因及发病机制复杂,治疗方法的疗效争议较多。本文主要将近年来关于中耳胆脂瘤的病因、发病机制及治疗进展进行综述。     

Predisposing factors for inner ear hearing loss association with chronic otitis media

The aim of the present study was to investigate the consequences of chronic otitis media on inner ear function. Retrospective analysis of conventional pure-tone audiometry tests was carried out on 344 patients who were scheduled for surgical treatment of unilateral chronic otitis media without other risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss. Bone conduction thresholds of diseased ears were compared with those of contralateral, non-diseased ears. Selected clinical features were assessed among diseased ears to examine possible influences on inner ear function. Mean bone conduction threshold differences varied from 0.6 dB at 0.5 kHz to 3.7 dB at 4 kHz. These differences augmented with increasing duration of middle ear disease. Impaired hearing by bone conduction thresholds of diseased ears correlated with increased age at every frequency and with an interruption of the ossicular chain only at higher frequencies. The severity of sensorineural hearing loss correlated with longer duration of middle ear disease. Thus, surgical treatment of dry and apparently stable tympanic membrane perforation is warranted.     

Predisposing factors for inner ear hearing loss association with chronic otitis media

The aim of the present study was to investigate the consequences of chronic otitis media on inner ear function. Retrospective analysis of conventional pure-tone audiometry tests was carried out on 344 patients who were scheduled for surgical treatment of unilateral chronic otitis media without other risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss. Bone conduction thresholds of diseased ears were compared with those of contralateral, non-diseased ears. Selected clinical features were assessed among diseased ears to examine possible influences on inner ear function. Mean bone conduction threshold differences varied from 0.6?dB at 0.5?kHz to 3.7?dB at 4?kHz. These differences augmented with increasing duration of middle ear disease. Impaired hearing by bone conduction thresholds of diseased ears correlated with increased age at every frequency and with an interruption of the ossicular chain only at higher frequencies. The severity of sensorineural hearing loss correlated with longer duration of middle ear disease. Thus, surgical treatment of dry and apparently stable tympanic membrane perforation is warranted.     

慢性化脓性中耳炎与感音神经性聋

目的：观察慢性化脓性中耳炎（CSOM）对感音神经性聋（SNHL）的影响。方法：测量135例（168耳）CSOM患者的骨导听阈，并以66例单侧患者的健耳为对照，比较不同类型、不同病程的CSOM的骨导听阈。结果：CSOM各组骨导听阈均值明显高于对照组，且与中耳炎的类型和病程相关。结论：CSOM可引起SNHL，且中耳病变越重，病程越长，听力下降越明显     

Traumatic perilymphatic fistulas in children: etiology, diagnosis and management

Post-traumatic perilymphatic fistulas have been described following ear and temporal bone injury, particularly in the setting of temporal bone fractures. However, indications for exploratory surgery in cases of trauma without temporal bone fracture are vague and not well described. We describe three children who presented with symptoms suggestive of perilymphatic fistula (PLF) without an associated temporal bone fracture: two with penetrating tympanic membrane injuries and one with blunt temporal bone trauma. All had symptoms of hearing loss and vestibular disturbance. Two of the children cooperated with ear-specific audiologic assessment, which demonstrated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on the traumatized side. The third child showed audiometric evidence of a SNHL on the injured side, but due to his age, the degree of severity of the SNHL was unable to be appropriately addressed prior to the patient being surgically managed. All three children underwent exploratory surgery and were found to have bony defects in the region of the oval window. All were repaired with fascial grafts to the oval and round windows with complete resolution of vestibular symptoms. However, two of the three patients with documented post-operative audiograms suffered from persistent SNHL on the injured side. We conclude that exploratory middle ear surgery is indicated in patients suffering from blunt or penetrating temporal bone or middle ear trauma who demonstrate persistent vestibular symptoms, sensorineural hearing loss or radiographic evidence of oval window pathology. As this is a limited number of patients, a larger series may be warranted to study the actual incidence of post-traumatic PLF in the child with persistent hearing loss and vertigo after head or ear trauma.     

慢性化脓性中耳炎与感音神经性聋的相关性分析

目的：探讨慢性化脓性中耳炎与感音神经性聋之间的相关性。方法：回顾分析174例单侧慢性化脓性中耳炎患者的骨导阈值改变。采用配对t检验分析0．5kHz，1．0kHz，2．0kHz，4．0kHz患耳与健耳骨导阈值的差异，单因素方差分析法分析胆脂瘤存在及听骨链破坏对语频(0．5kHz，1．0kHz，2．0kHz)和4．0kHz骨导阈值的影响，直线回归法讨论了语频和4．0kHz骨导阈值改变与年龄和病程之间的相关性。结果：患耳与健耳各频率骨导阈值之间差异有统计学意义。语频骨导听力损失程度随着患者年龄的增加而逐渐加重。胆脂瘤的存在以及听骨链破坏亦未增加感音神经性聋的发生概率。结论：慢性化脓性中耳炎可引起感音神经性聋。高频骨导听阈较低频更易受到影响。     

Labyrinthine involvement and multiple perforations of the tympanic membrane in acute otitis media due to group A streptococci

We present here three cases of acute otitis media caused by a virulent group A streptococcal infection that rapidly led to deterioration in hearing. Two of the three cases presented with severe sensorineural and mixed hearing loss with multiple tympanic membrane perforations, and the third presented with severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss following acute otitis media involving group A streptococci. All patients were treated with systemic (piperacillin) and topical antibiotics (ofloxacin ear drops): one patient also received a systemic steroid (betamethasone). Deafness persisted in one patient but in the other two, hearing gradually recovered. Severe cytotoxicity was considered to have occurred in all patients, resulting in multiple perforations of the tympanic membrane and necrosis in the middle ear.     

A case of successful surgical treatment of labyrinth fistula in the sole hearing ear

The objective of this communication is to demonstrate success of the surgical intervention on the sole hearing ear in the presence of absolute indications for such treatment, viz. the presence of cholesteatoma and labyrinth fistula (LF). The sensorineural loss of hearing is a rather common serious complication of LF surgery in the patients with cholesteatoma. The present observation concerns a 41 year-old woman with the history of an episode of suppurative otitis media experienced in the childhood. After a period of prolonged remission, she suffered systemic dizziness despite the intact tympanic membranes. The patient was examined with the use of multispiral computed tomography (MSCT) that revealed serious lesions in the middle ear (labyrinth fistula). It made possible careful planning and performing sanation surgery on the middle ear including tympano- and mastoidoplasty. This treatment produced good morphological and functional result.     

Silent otitis media

There is a traditional view that chronic otitis media and chronic mastoiditis must exist in the presence of a tympanic membrane perforation. Based on a human histopathological study of 123 temporal bones with chronic otitis media out of 333 temporal bones with all forms of otitis media pathology, only 24 patients (36 ears) had symptoms of otological disease recorded on their charts and only 19.5% of these had an associated tympanic membrane perforation. Unsuspected findings of chronic otitis media (active or inactive) are occasionally confirmed at exploratory tympanotomy. Such quiet chronic pathological findings in the middle ear have occurred in association with endolymphatic hydrops and cochlear end organ lesions suggesting the possibility that silent chronic otitis media may help explain sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus for certain patients. We put forth the hypothesis that clinically undetectable silent otitis media in neonates and infants might help explain why certain children are otitis media prone. Our otopathology laboratory includes 111 ears harvested from neonates and infants (average age 8 months). Histological analysis revealed normal findings in some, whereas significant numbers of others show all forms of otitis media, including purulent otitis media, chronic otitis media, serous otitis media, and mucoid otitis media, with occasional overlap of types. Clinical implications will be discussed wth emphasis on silent otitis media and its relationship to the pathogenesis of otitis media and silent chronic otitis media and its possible role in causing insidious labyrinthine changes. A significant outcome of this study was the marked degree of unresolved mesenchyme in the clinically manifest otitis media group or silent otitis media group as compared to a control group. This association and role of mesenchyme is discussed relative to the pathogenesis of infantile otitis media.     

Cochlear implantation in the chronically diseased ear

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The presence of chronic ear disease in patients with profound SNHL presents a challenge to the otologic surgeon and was considered, in the past, a contraindication to cochlear implantation. This review discusses options for cochlear implantation in patients with chronically diseased ears. RECENT FINDINGS: Several management options are available for cochlear implantation in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation can be safely achieved in patients with CSOM. The approach chosen should be individualized based on clinical findings.     

筋膜外植法鼓室成形术的手术体会

目的 探讨筋膜外植法在鼓室成形术中的应用及价值.方法 回顾分析筋膜外植法鼓室成形术63耳,随访观察患者的外耳道宽敞度、鼓膜形态及听力恢复情况.结果 本组病例包括中耳胆脂瘤25耳,慢性化脓性中耳炎38耳.手术方式分别为筋膜外植法鼓室成形术、筋膜外植法鼓窜成形术+完肇式乳突根治术和筋膜外植法鼓室成形术+开放式乳突根治术三种类型,中耳胆脂瘤和慢性化脓性中耳炎患者实施三种手术的数最分别为4、17、4耳和19、18、1耳.术后切口全部Ⅰ期愈合.随访0.5～3.5年,外耳道宽敞,鼓膜形态良好,听力提高或维持术前水平,未有听力下降者.按时随访者未发现有明显并发症.结论 筋膜外植法鼓室成形术具有操作流程规范、术野暴露充分、病变清除彻底等优点,在慢性中耳炎的外科治疗中具有积极意义.     

Audiovestibular profile in unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media

AudioIogical tests including middle ear impedance test and vestibular function tests were administered to seventyfive patients of unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media. These patients were selected so as to exclude the influence of hereditory, drugs, systemic illness and the factors of aging. The subjects were subdivided into 3 groups : group 1 cases with central perforation; group 2 with marginal and group 3 with attic perforation respectively. On pure tone audiometry, 19 diseased ears (25.3%) showed sensorineural hearing loss of 40 dB or more at 4 KHz and 8 KHz. The difference in the mean bone conduction threshold of diseased and the nondiseased ears was statistically significant at 4 KHz and above. Results of specialised tests of hearing suggested cochlear pathology being responsible for sensorneural hearing loss. Electronystagmographic recording of saccades and bithermal caloric induced nystagmus revealed canal paresis on the diseased side in 4 patients (5.3%). These 4 patients had 15 years history of otorrhoea.     

颞骨高分辨率CT在中、内耳手术中的应用

目的分析颞骨高分辨率CT在中、内耳手术中的应用。方法回顾分析近3年的600例中、内耳手术前颞骨CT和术中病变情况。结果术前CT诊断慢性化脓性中耳炎、中耳胆脂瘤、中耳炎后遗症(包括鼓膜穿孔、粘连性中耳炎、鼓室硬化症)、耳硬化症和中耳畸形及恶性肿瘤的符合率分别为98.7%(221/224耳)、94.4%(319/302耳)、94.1%(32/38耳)、66.7%(16/24耳)和100%(12/12耳)。结论颞骨CT提供了大量关于中、内耳的信息,临床医师术前应该认真阅读分析颞骨CT片,充分利用CT提供的信息,做好手术的个体化设计,提高治疗质量。     

Sensorineural hearing loss in experimental purulent otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been described clinically following chronic otitis media with effusion, but to the best of our knowledge, no studies have demonstrated SNHL in an animal model of otitis media. Using the chinchilla model of pneumococcal otitis media, significant SNHL was demonstrated after purulent otitis media, especially at higher frequencies. Animals with otitis media received penicillin G procaine treatment for five days after otitis media with effusion (OME) was first documented; resolution of middle ear infection was confirmed by middle ear effusion culture in all animals. Both the inoculated and uninoculated ears were examined by tone burst-elicited compound action potential at threshold. The inoculated ear showed a marked hearing loss of 13 to 36 dB three to four days after OME was first documented; a hearing loss up to 24 dB persisted two to five weeks after inoculation. The change in the compound action potential was highly significant at all frequencies studied. Conductive losses were largely ruled out because there was no middle ear effusion at death and the tympanogram was normal. Purulent labyrinthitis was ruled out by histopathological study. These results indicate that purulent pneumococcal otitis media in the chinchilla model causes significant SNHL and suggest that the pathogenesis of SNHL associated with chronic OME in humans may be studied in this model.     

Analysis of preoperative findings and ossicular condition in chronic suppurative otitis media]

OBJECTIVE: To discussion the relationship of preoperative findings and ossicular condition in chronic suppurative otitis media. METHOD: The correlation between the ossicular conditions and classification of tympanic membrane perforation, ear discharge, air conduction pure tone average, air-bone gap, pneumatization, complication, and cholesteatoma in 251 patients(288 ears) with chronic suppurative otitis media was analysed. RESULT: The air-conduction threshold and air-bone gap in patients with ossicular discontinuity are higher than that in patients with ossicular continuity. Ossicular discontinuity in patients with perforation of the pars flaccida of tympanic membrane, persistently draining ears, complications, and cholesteatoma occurred significiantly more frequently than those without these conditions. CONCLUSION: The air-conduction threshold and air-bone gap are the more reliable indications to identify the ossicular conditions in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media. There are significiant correlation between the ossicular conditions in patients with chronic otitis media and their classification of tympanic membrane perforation, ear discharge, complication, and cholesteatoma.     

A point prevalence of otitis media in a Nigerian village

One hundred seventy children and 103 adults from a rural Nigerian village were examined for the presence of middle and external ear pathology. Ear, nose and throat examination included: (1) pneumatic otoscopic exam, (2) tympanometry and (3) contralateral acoustic reflex. A diagnostic algorithm was applied to these 3 findings for each subject and each ear. Our data showed a point prevalence of otitis media in children (less than or equal to 15 years) to be 21.2% compared to 4% in adults (greater than 15 years). Of the 36 children with otitis media, only 3 had perforation and otorrhea; a diagnosis of otitis media with effusion behind an intact tympanic membrane was made in the other 33 children. The prevalence of otitis media varied significantly with age and evidence of upper respiratory tract infection. There was no significant difference between sexes. External ear pathology was found as an independent variable in 24% of the 170 children; three-fourths of these children had concurrent middle ear pathology. The results are discussed in relation to the current understanding of the differences that exist in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of otitis media in different racial groups.