Ultrastructure of the Middle-Ear Mucosa in Secretory Otitis Media: II. Mucous Effusion

Abstract

Part 2 of an ultrastructural study of the middle ear mucosa from patients with secretory otitis media is presented. Biopsies were taken of the pro-montorial epithelium of 11 patients with mucous, glue-like effusion in the middle ear. By comparison with mucosa from patients with serous effusion, it was found that the cells presumed to secrete serous fluid had disappeared, while the mucous-secreting cells had increased in number. Ciliated cells were few and the cilia often degenerated. Many submucous glands were demonstrated. A few specimens showed squamous metaplasia of the mucosa which might present an early stage of a primary cholesteatoma.