Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.
2012 May;55(5):278-283. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.5.278.
Clinical Characteristics and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria of Obliterative Otitis Media
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. yscho@skku.edu
- 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea.
- KMID: 1978170
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.5.278
Abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Obliterative otitis media is a condition in which the entire middle ear cavity is filled up with fibrous tissue and with intact tympanic membrane. The aim of this study was to define the clinical features and analyze the treatment outcomes of this disease.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Between January 2000 and August 2011, 16 patients consistent with the criteria of obliterative otitis media were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS
All patients had intact but thickened eardrum, with mixed hearing loss of mild to moderate degree. The video pneumatic otoscopic examination revealed very limited mobility of eardrum. Myringotomy did not reveal any air-filled spaces or fluid in the tympanic cavity. There was no significant improvement of hearing after myringotomy or ventilation tube insertion.
CONCLUSION
Obliterative otitis media is a discrete clinical entity and should not be confused with otitis media with effusion or adhesive otitis media.
