Article
Diagnostic value of tympanometry in different middle ear pathology
Search Medline for
Authors
Published: | April 11, 2016 |
---|
Outline
Abstract
Introduction: In differential diagnosis of otosclerosis and adhesive processes in sound-conductive hearing loss concluded that a more or less normal impedance pattern, since other pathologies of the middle ear also give normal pressures, we hold that the final diagnosis should involve other diagnostic methods, such as intraoperative and microscope examinations.
Methods: Between 2010 and September 2015, from 25498 patients we have treated, 1184 patients with middle ear pathology underwent tympanometry at the ENT cabinet Occupathional Health Institute, Kosovo, using an MT 10 ImpedanceAudiometer.
Discussion: Tympanometry provides valuable information on the middle ear transmission system, it has three limitations. First, no unique tympanometric pattern exists for every possible middle ear disorder. Second, the lateral most pathology, that is, the pathology affecting the eardrum directly, will have the dominant effect onthe measured immittance, even when the pathology is inconsequential to the hearing status. Third, substantial variability exists in tympanometric values, often with substation overlap between the findings in normal and diseased middle ears. Even with these limitations, tympanometry used in conjugation with otoscopy, a pure tone audiogram and acoustic reflex measurements can provide valuable augmentative information that would not otherwise be available.
Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenkonflikt an.