Middle ear effusion: tympanometry versus operative findings

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the role of tympanometry in predicting middle ear effusion by comparing results with the operative findings. A descriptive study concerned with 105 ears [57 patients] diagnosed as middle ear effusion by tympanometry; type B, flat curve; that underwent myringotomy operation [with or without ventilation tube insertion]. Department of ENT-Al-Salam Teaching Hospital/Mosul for the period [April 2003 to September 2004]. Tympanometry was performed in the Outpatient Clinic of Al-Jamhoori Teaching Hosptial. The study included 36 males and 21 females with a ratio of 1.71. The average age was 6 years with a range of 3-12 years. The parameters analyzed included age, sex and lympanometric results. Matching between the suspected ears for middle ear effusion; type B, flat curve; and the operative findings [fluid found in the middle ear at the time of myringotomy] was recorded. The diagnosis accuracy and examination success rate of tympanometry; type B, flat curve; in predicting middle ear effusion was 71.4 percent. Moreover, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 97.2 percent, 57.3 percent, 55.3 percent respectively. Thus, the positive likelihood ratio was 2.3. The accuracy rate of tympanometry in predicting middle ear effusion showed a fair validity for its exclusion. The use of pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometry together improves the accuracy of diagnosis