Eustachian Tube Function

Ars, B.; Dirckx, Joris J.J.

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2016.05.003

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The Eustachian tube is an extended part of the upper respiratory tract, which connects the middle ear space and the nasopharynx 1 . As the only route for ventilating air spaces in the middle ear and mastoid cavity, the complex valve function of the Eustachian tube plays an important role in maintaining middle ear homeostasis, that is, air pressure equalization between the middle ear cavity and atmosphere, middle ear oxygenation, draining of secretions from the middle ear, and protection of the middle ear from retrograde infections 2 , 3 . The Eustachian tube consists of complex structures of intratemporal bone and a fibrous, cartilaginous portion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilization potential of intraluminal optical coherence tomography for the Eustachian tube

Byun

Kim

Xing

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Imaging the Eustachian tube is challenging because of its complex anatomy and limited accessibility. This study fabricated a fiber-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) catheter and investigated its potential for assessing the Eustachian tube anatomy. A customized OCT system and an imaging catheter, termed the Eustachian OCT, were developed for visualizing the Eustachian tube. Three male swine cadaver heads were used to study OCT image acquisition and for subsequent histologic correlation. The imaging catheter was introduced through the nasopharyngeal opening and reached toward the middle ear. The OCT images were acquired from the superior to the nasopharyngeal opening before and after Eustachian tube balloon dilatation. The histological anatomy of the Eustachian tube was compared with corresponding OCT images, The new, Eustachian OCT catheter was successfully inserted in the tubal lumen without damage. Cross-sectional images of the tube were successfully obtained, and the margins of the anatomical structures including cartilage, mucosa lining, and fat could be successfully delineated. After balloon dilatation, the expansion of the cross-sectional area could be identified from the OCT images. Using the OCT technique to assess the Eustachian tube anatomy was shown to be feasible, and the fabricated OCT image catheter was determined to be suitable for Eustachian tube assessment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilization potential of intraluminal optical coherence tomography for the Eustachian tube

Byun

Kim

Xing

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…[ 10 ] Under pathological states such as adenoiditis, adenoidal hypertrophy (AH) and tonsillitis, adenoid was subject to stimulation of various spoilage organisms such as local bacterial virus, and then presented mucous hyperemia, lymphadenosis, as well as activation and proliferation of Tfh. [ 6 ] Meanwhile, Tfh could be access to the pharyngotympanic tube and the mucous membrane of middle-ear space via blood circulation, [ 11 ] which then contributed to the release of inflammatory mediators leading to SOM. [ 12 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of T follicular helper cells in the pathogenesis of adenoidal hypertrophy combined with secretory otitis media

et al. 2018

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The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in secretory otitis media (SOM) combined with adenoidal hypertrophy (AH).Patients with AH or AH combined with SOM admitted to the Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital from December 2012 to December 2014 were included. Fourteen age-matched healthy individuals received physical examinations in the hospital served as control. The venous Tfh was determined using flow cytometry, and CD3 + CD4 + CXCR5 + T lymphocytes were defined as Tfh cells. Serum inflammatory factors including IL-8, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, IL-12p70, IL-21, and IgE were determined using commercial kits.Compared with the AH group, the number of CD4 + CXCR5 + T cells in peripheral blood of the AH combined with SOM group showed significant increase. Statistical differences were noticed in the number of the number of CD4 + CXCR5 + T cells in moderate and severe AH groups compared with that of the control group. Statistical differences were identified in the proportion of CD4 + CXCR5 + T cells in the adenoidal tissues between the AH combined with SOM group and AH group (P < .05). For the CD4 + CXCR5 + T cells in adenoidal tissues, no statistical differences were noticed between the moderate and severe AH groups (P > .05). The number of CD4 + CXCR5 + T cells was positively correlated to the serum IL-21. Nevertheless, no correlation was noticed between CD4 + CXCR5 + T cell and serum IL-8, IL-6, IL-10, and IgE.Tfh is involved in the AH combined with SOM in children. Besides, serum IL-21, IL-8, IL-6, IL-10, and IgE may be involved in the onset of SOM in children.

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“…The findings of our study demonstrate that patients with diseased ears have a significant decrease in the volume of the protympanum when compared to patients without middle ear disease. When considering that the middle ear cleft is a bony, non-collapsible structure, the variation of the pressure of air creates positive and negative forces inside its chamber [24,25]. Several regulatory mechanisms can neutralize the variation of the pressure, including the natural air reservoir (mastoid air space) and the intermittent opening mechanism of the Eustachian tube [24,25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When considering that the middle ear cleft is a bony, non-collapsible structure, the variation of the pressure of air creates positive and negative forces inside its chamber [24,25]. Several regulatory mechanisms can neutralize the variation of the pressure, including the natural air reservoir (mastoid air space) and the intermittent opening mechanism of the Eustachian tube [24,25]. Smaller compartments may create a favorable ambient to dysventilation, decreasing the ability of the middle ear cleft to deal with these variations in the gas pressure [25,26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 3-D analysis of the protympanum in human temporal bones with chronic ear disease

Pauna

Monsanto

Schachern

et al. 2016

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol

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Eustachian tube dysfunction is believed to be an important factor to cholesteatoma development and recurrence of disease after surgical treatment. Although many studies have described prognostic factors, evaluation methods, or surgical techniques for Eustachian tube dysfunction, they relied on the soft tissues of its structure; little is known about its bony structure – the protympanum – which connects the Eustachian tube to the tympanic cavity, and can also be affected by several inflammatory conditions, both from the middle ear or from the nasopharynx. We studied temporal bones from patients with cholesteatoma, chronic otitis media (with and without retraction pockets), purulent otitis media, and non-diseased ears, looking for differences between the volume of the protympanum, the diameter of the Eustachian tube isthmus, and the distance between the anterior tympanic annulus and the promontory. Light microscopy and 3-D reconstruction software were used for the measurements. We observed a decrease of volume in the lumen of the four middle ear diseased ears compared to the control group. We observed a significant decrease in the volume of the protympanic space in the cholesteatoma group compared to the chronic otitis media group. We also observed a decrease in the bony space (protympanum space) in cholesteatoma, chronic otitis media with retraction pockets, and purulent otitis media compared to the control group. We found a correlation in middle ear diseases and a decrease in the middle ear space. Our findings may suggest that a smaller bony volume in the protympanic area may trigger middle ear dysventilation problems.

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Eustachian Tube Function

Cited by 30 publications

References 39 publications

Utilization potential of intraluminal optical coherence tomography for the Eustachian tube

Utilization potential of intraluminal optical coherence tomography for the Eustachian tube

Roles of T follicular helper cells in the pathogenesis of adenoidal hypertrophy combined with secretory otitis media

A 3-D analysis of the protympanum in human temporal bones with chronic ear disease

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