Scintigraphic evaluation of the Eustachian tube functions

Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction is one of the most important factors in the etiology of middle ear disease. There are several methods to assess the functions of ET which show the anatomic patency of the tube. However, functional patency of ET should be evaluated as well. For this reason, we used a scintigraphic method at 42 patients who had otitis media with effusion (study group) and traumatic perforation of the ear drum (control group) at 32 and 10 of them, respectively. After instillation of 100 microCi (100 microliters) Technetium 99m-macro-aggregated albumin (Tc99m-MAA) into the middle ear, 60 images were taken at 15 second intervals. Both groups were investigated as to whether there was radioactivity passage through ET and, the arrival time of the radioactivity to ET and to nasopharynx were calculated if the passage occurred. Radioactivity passage rates in the study and control groups were 5 (16%) and 10 (100%), respectively. The difference between both groups was statistically very significant (Chi-square, p < 0.001). Scintigraphy is a feasible tool for the assessment of ET functions. Scintigraphic methods should be improved and be used as a tubal function test in the future.