STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCERS UNDERGOING RADIOTHERAPY

Dr. Hatem Taha Al Hammady*, Youssef Youssef and Yasser Ali

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study: to evaluate the function of Eustachian Tube and monitor the occurrence of otitis media with effusion in patients with head and neck cancer after radiotherapy. Methods: after familiarizing the patient with the criteria and objectives of the research, a detailed and accurate medical story was taken, information about each patient was recorded within a special form with an accurate ear, nose and throat examination using appropriate instruments with an assessment of the condition of the cervical nodes. Then auditory tests were held such as Rinne, Weber tests, auditory impedance test and a pure tone audiogram. Then clinical and auditory re-evaluation after the end of radiotherapy and then a month later to investigate the safety of auditory function and to prescribe appropriate therapies. Results: the study sample included 40 patients who were diagnosed with head and neck cancers before starting radiotherapy, including 29 males and 11 females. Laryngeal malignancy made up 70% of the sample. Patients with nasopharyngeal tumors were excluded from this study for its direct effect on the Eustachian tube. The results of hearing impairment showed the safety of all patients of the study sample by 100% type A, while this percentage decreased during the radiotherapy period and after to 47.5% with a statistically significant difference p value ≤0.05 . The results of PTA showed normal values in all patients of the study before treatment, while this percentage decreased to 50% during and after treatment (with a statistically significant difference p value ≤0.05). Conductive hearing loss accounted for the highest 35% of cases, followed by sensorineural hearing loss 10% and then mixed 5%. We found that the majority of cases of Eustachian tube dysfunction and conductive hearing loss were concentrated in the tumor side 35.7% of cases. Conclusion: the radiotherapy used in the treatment of head and neck cancers with or without chemotherapy affects the soft tissues of the head and neck especially the Eustachian tube, which negatively affects the integrity of the middle ear.

Keywords: OME, Tympanometry, PTA, Radiotherapy.