鼓膜チューブ留置後の乳突蜂巣発育

Abstract

Although it is generally believed that the development of the mastoid pneumatization is suppressed by chronic middle ear inflammation, it is not yet known whether the suppressed mastoid air cells can develop again after the treatment of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. In this study, of 20 children (31 ears) with OME who had had poor pneumatization, the extent of mastoid pneumatization was compared on X-ray images (Schuller's view) obtained between the period before, and 10 to 24 months after, ventilation tube insertion. In 19 of 27 ears, the size of the mastoid air cells had increased. In the ears of children under 6 years old, the degree of increase was significantly greater than in children over 7 of age. It is possible that mastoid pneumatization in children with OME can start developing again if their ventilation tube was inserted before 6 years of age.