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Articles

Smartphone-based video-otoscopy performed by non-ENT physicians as a complementary tool to conventional otoscopy for tympanic membrane diagnosis

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Pages 14-19 | Received 08 Sep 2022, Accepted 24 Apr 2023, Published online: 17 May 2023
 

ABSTRACT

Tympanic membrane (TM) evaluations are frequently accomplished through conventional otoscopy (COt) by non-otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) physicians with several limitations, including low diagnostic accuracy. However, novel smartphone-based video-otoscopy (VOt) include characteristics that can improve otoscopic diagnoses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of VOt as a complementary tool for COt in performing otoscopic diagnoses. A diagnostic test study with a cross-over design was conducted using family-community medicine (FCM) residents spending two weeks in an otorhinolaryngology clinic between 2020 and 2021. The diagnostic otoscopic accuracy between the ENT and the FCM-residents, who performed both otoscopic techniques sequentially, was evaluated. A random effect, meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values. With the participation of 11 FCM-residents, 292 ears were evaluated. The most frequent otoscopic signs were myringosclerosis (33%), TM atrophy (17.1%), TM-retractions (9.2%), and TM perforations (7.9%). VOt showed ∼40 and 45% sensitivity value increase over COt in identifying atrophy and retraction, respectively. VOt also had a ∼34% more positive predictive value over COt in recognizing retractions. The use of VOt as a complementary tool performed by non-ENT physicians thus significantly increased the diagnostic accuracy for certain tympanic alterations such as atrophies and retractions.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

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