Efficacy of balloon dilatation of the eustachian tube in patients with refractory otitis media with effusion after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of balloon dilatation of the eustachian tube (BDET) in patients with refractory otitis media with effusion (OME) after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A total of 58 patients (74 ears) who had received BDET for treatment of refractory OME after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled. The efficacy was evaluated by seven-item eustachian tube scores (ETS-7), tympanogram type and air-bone gap, and the total effective rate was also calculated. All patients were followed up for 2years. ETS-7 scores at every postoperative visit were significantly higher than preoperative scores (all P<0.05). ETS-7 score 6months after surgery was the highest, which declined sharply from the 6th to the 24th month after surgery. Air-bone gap from the 1st to the 18th month after surgery was significantly smaller than preoperative one (all P<0.05). Air-bone gap 6months after surgery was the smallest, followed by that 12months after surgery. The improvement in tympanogram type 6months after surgery was the highest. The improvement of tympanogram type declined sharply from 12 to 24months after surgery. According to evaluation of efficacy, only one patient completely recovered, and five patients partially recovered during the 2-year follow-up. BDET can only significantly improve efficacy of refractory OME after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma for a certain period of time during the 2-year follow-up.