A histopathologic evaluation of mucosa obtained from mastoidectomy cavity by mastoidoscopy

Despite the routine application of intact canal wall mastoidectomy for chronic suppurative otitis media, the outcome of mucosa within the mastoidectomy cavity is not wellknown. The purpose of this was to evaluate the mastoidectomy cavity and obtain mucosal study specimens from the mastoidectomy cavities in order to reveal any residual pathology. Mastoidoscopy under local anaesthesia was performed to evaluate the mastoidectomy cavity and obtain mucosal specimens from the mastoid antrum. The procedure was carried out in 12 patients. Four (33%) patients had wide cavities, 6 (50%) had their cavities narrowed down to the antrum, and 2 (17%) patients had obliterated cavities. Mucosal specimens examined with transmission electron microscopy revealed findings like swelling of some of the mitochondria, decrease in the number of organelles, intracellular oedema, changes in the nuclei, decrease in cilia and fibrosis. In conclusion, even if there may be some pathology at a microscopic level, this does not necessarily lead to any clinical problem.