[The value of computed tomography scans of temporal bone and eustachian tubal function tests for lesions at tympanic opening of eustachian tube in middle ear cholesteatoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of temporal bone and eustachian tubal function tests for lesions at tympanic opening of eustachian tube in the patients of otitis media with cholesteatoma prior to surgery. METHOD: The clinical data of 38 cases (41 ears) with cholesteatoma, which were examined by HRCT scans and eustachian tubal function tests before mastoidectomy (29 ears) or mastoidectomy+ tympanoplasty (12 ears), were analyzed. RESULT: The rate of conformation between the radiographic and the operative findings was 94.1% in the tympanic opening of eustachian tube. We found that the rate of the process tissue in the tympanic opening of eustachian tube was 86.5% (32/37) during the operation and that they were mainly granulation tissues and cholesteatoma. The rate of eustachian tubal hypofunction was 90.2% (37/41), the obstructive type and the incompetent type were 32 ears and five ears, respectively, only four were normal. CONCLUSION: HRCT scans and eustachian tubal function tests by Sonotubometry and Tubotymanoaerodynamic (TTAG) play vital roles in diagnosis of the tympanic opening lesion of eustachian tube and in assessment of eustachian tubal function pre-operation of middle ear cholesteatoma.