Density of Mucous Glands in a Biopsy Material of Chronic Secretory Otitis Media

Abstract

Biopsies were taken from the anterior part of the promontory in the course of tubulation through a paracentesis opening in 85 ears affected with chronic secretory otitis media in the secretory stage from 54 patients, mostly children. The specimens were stained by the PAS-alcian blue whole-mount method, and on each biopsy the number of glands was counted, their area measured directly, and their density calculated. Glands were found in all ears but two from which the specimens were very small. The density varied within wide limits, from 1 to 31 glands per mm². In most ears the density was 3–10 glands per mm². The mean density in the entire material was 6.7 glands per mm², gland count per biopsy 7.5. In all, 743 glands and 105 mm² mucosa were investigated. 92.7% of the glands were active, 5.7% were transitional types, and only 1.6% were degenerated. In cases with large quantities of mucus and thickened mucosa the density as well as the number of glands per biopsy were greatest. There was a relationship between the severity of the secretory otitis in the secretory stage and the density of mucous glands. This fürther stresses that the mucous secretion which accumulates in the middle ear is an active product of the mucous glands.