Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2018 Mar;61(3):133-138. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00360.

The Relation between Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea and Types of Immune Cells in Middle Ear Effusion in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion

• Lim GC
• Hyun CL
• Kim DY
• Choi SH
• Song CI

• KMID: 2436438
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00360

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Tympanostomy tube insertion is one of the most common surgical procedures in children. Despite aseptic procedures with prophylactic antibiotic treatment, postoperative otorrhea may be encountered in some patients. The purpose of this study is to identify the relation between the types of immune cells in otitis media with effusion (OME) and tympanostomy tube otorrhea (TTO) in children.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Fifty-six patients underwent tympanostomy tube insertion with OME were analyzed retrospectively. Fluid from OME was harvested by suction via syringe connector after myringotomy. Light microscopic examination of middle ear effusion was performed by a pathologist after hematoxylin and eosin staining. We analyzed the relation between the types of immune cells from middle ear effusion and TTO.
RESULTS
Of 56 children, 36 were male and 22 were female. The mean age for tympanostomy tube insertion was 3.56 (±2.63) years, with the average follow-up period of 12.56 (±9.96) months. Neutrophils were detected in 19, eosinophils in 14, lymphocytes in 22, mast cells in 2, plasma cells in 7, and histiocytes in 9. TTO occurred in 15 patients. In patients with early TTO, eosinophils were detected more frequently than in patients without TTO (p=0.006). Plasma cells were detected more frequently in patient with late TTO than without TTO (p=0.011).
CONCLUSION
According to the analysis of different types of immune cells, eosinophils in the middle ear effusion related with the occurrence of TTO.

Keyword

Bacterial culture; Eosinophilic otitis media; Immune cells; Otitis media with effusion; Tympanostomy tube otorrhea

MeSH Terms

Child*
Ear, Middle*
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Eosinophils
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hematoxylin
Histiocytes
Humans
Lymphocytes
Male
Mast Cells
Methods
Middle Ear Ventilation*
Neutrophils
Otitis Media with Effusion*
Otitis Media*
Otitis*
Plasma Cells
Retrospective Studies
Suction
Syringes
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin