Silent otitis media and eustachian tube function in individuals with head and neck tumor

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In histopathological studies, silent otitis media in autopsy cases with advanced malignant tumors of the head and neck had been reported. In this clinical study, silent otitis media was detected in cases with head and neck tumors and, furthermore, patulous eustachian tube was proved to be related to head and neck tumors. The otitis media in head and neck tumors was caused by tumor, irradiation, and surgical therapy. Hitherto, otitis media was considered to be related to stenosis of the eustachian tube, however patulous eustachian tube poses a possibility of causing silent otitis media. Patulous eustachian tube was detected by endoscopic findings of the tympanic membrane and the pharyngeal orifice through video monitor observation, the impedance method, and sonotubometry. Patulous eustachian tube in head and neck tumors was probably due to atrophy of the lymphoid tissue and glands aroud the eustachian tube resulting from radiotherapy and/or one of the causative factors of the loss of weight in aged male patients.