Mucociliary function of the eustachian tube in the eustachian tube dysfunction

Abstract

Background: Most of the tests to evaluate the eustachian tube (ET) function are focused on the ventilation function of the ET.

Aim: Here we evaluate mucociliary function of the ET in patients with ET dysfunction.

Materials and methods: Ten patients with ET dysfunction were enrolled into the study. Six patients had chronic tympanic membrane retraction and four patients had chronic middle ear effusion (MEE). All patients had intact tympanic membranes. Tympanometry and clinical examinations were done to all patients. Mucociliary function was evaluated with technetium labeled albumin and blue dye. Tympanometry and clinical examinations were done to six patients with chronic tympanic membrane retraction and four patients with chronic middle ear effusion (MEE). Mucociliary function of the ET was evaluated with technetium labeled albumin and blue dye placed into middle ear through an intact tympanic membrane and followed from nasopharynx ET orifice (blue dye) and with gamma camera (technetium).

Results: Blue dye was observed in tubal orifice in six (6 of 10) patients during 30 min observation. Five of those patients (5 of 6) had tympanic membrane retraction and one patient (1 of 6) had MEE. Tracer activity decreased from middle ear in six (6 of 10) patients. Four of those patients had tympanic membrane retraction and two had MEE.

Conclusion: Mucociliary function of the ET seems to be better in patients with tympanic membrane retraction than patients with middle ear effusion.

Significance: Mucociliary function of the ET is an important function for middle ear aeration, blue dye test is easily available to be used also in clinical practice.

Chinese abstract

背景：评价咽鼓管（ET）功能的测试大多着重于它的通气功能上。

目的：探讨ET功能障碍患者的ET黏液纤毛功能。

材料与方法：对10例ET功能障碍患者进行研究。6例慢性鼓膜回缩, 4例慢性中耳积液（MEE）。所有患者均有完整的鼓膜。对所有患者进行了鼓室测量和临床检查。用锝标记的白蛋白和蓝色染料评价粘液纤毛功能。对6例慢性鼓膜回缩患者和4例慢性中耳积液患者进行了鼓室测量和临床检查。通过完整的鼓膜, 然后从鼻咽ET孔（蓝色染料）, 将用锝标记的白蛋白和蓝色染料置入中耳, 用伽玛照相机（锝）对ET的粘液纤毛功能进行评估。

结果：6例（6/10）患者在30分钟的观察期内, 管口可见蓝色染料。其中5例（5/6）鼓膜收缩, 1例（1/6）有中耳积液。6例（6/10）患者的示踪剂活性从中耳开始下降。其中4例患者鼓膜收缩, 2例患者有中耳积液。

结论：中耳积液患者与鼓膜回缩患者相比, ET的黏液纤毛功能更好。

意义：ET的粘液纤毛功能是中耳通气的重要功能。蓝色染色测试还易于用于临床。

Keywords:

• Eustachian tube
• eustachian tube dysfunction
• eustachian tube mucociliary function
• middle ear effusion
• tympanic membrane retraction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).