Increased adenoid mast cells in patients with otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have been suggested the possible role of adenoid mast cells in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible relationship of adenoid mast cells and hearing loss in patients with chronic OME. METHODS: Twenty patients with combined chronic OME and chronic adenoiditis (OME-A) and 20 patients with isolated chronic adenoiditis were studied. Hearing thresholds were determined by pure tone audiometry in both groups. All subjects underwent adenoidectomy and adenoid mast cells were counted in each specimen. Number of adenoid mast cells were determined in both groups. Possible relationship of adenoid mast cells and hearing thresholds in OME-A patients was evaluated by comparing the hearing thresholds of OME-A patients with mast cell count above the mean of OME-A group and hearing thresholds of OME-A patients with mast cell count below the mean of OME-A group. RESULTS: All isolated chronic adenoiditis patients had normal hearing thresholds. OME-A patients had hearing thresholds ranging from 12-52 dB. The number of adenoid mast cells in OME-A group (median: 80) was significantly greater than isolated chronic adenoiditis group (median: 38) (P < 0.05). OME-A patients with adenoid mast cell count above the mean of OME-A group had significantly higher hearing thresholds compared to OME-A patients with mast cell count below the mean of OME-A group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OME-A have greater number of adenoid mast cells than patients with isolated chronic adenoiditis. OME-A patients with adenoid mast cell count above the mean of the OME-A group had higher hearing thresholds than OME-A patients with adenoid mast cell count below the mean of the OME-A group. Increased number of adenoid mast cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of higher hearing thresholds in some OME-A patients.