Study of secretory otitis media after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and inquisition of prevention and treatment

OBJECTIVE:To discuss systemically the etiology of secretory otitis media in nasopharyngeal patients after radiotherapy and to search the strategy for prevention and treatment.METHODS:The data of 176 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with secretory otitis media after radiotherapy were observed.Tympanic puncture and drainage were done to the patients with media ear effusion. The age, gender, tumor size,site and the secretory media otitis history of the 176 patients were reviewed to see if these factors had any relationship with the secretory media otitis after the radiotherapy.RESULTS:The incidence of the secretory media otitis occurred after the radiotherapy to the NPC patients was 48.9%, the incidence of the secretory media otitis occurred within 6 months after the radiotherapy was 51.2%. The age(P=0.367), gender(P=0.126) and the tumor size (P=0.147) had no observable correlation with the secretory media otiti’s occurrence, while the history of otitis before the radiotherapy and the invasion of lateral wall had positive correlation with the long term existence of the secretory media otitis after the radiotherapy, P=0.000.CONCLUSIONS:The history of otitis before the radiotherapy and the invasion of lateral wall are danger factors to the long term existence of secretary media otitis after NPC radiotherapy. Nowdays, the tympanic drainage and proper ear aids are practical deaf treatments to NPC patients with secretary media otitis after radiotherapy.