Oral submucous fibrosis with its possible effect on eustachian tube functions: A tympanometric study

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic inflammatory condition of oral cavity The common sites of involvement are cheek, tongue and soft palate The pathological changes not only involve the mucosa and submucosa but also extend deeper to involve the underlying muscles Atrophic and degenerative changes in the tubal and paratubal muscles have already been reported and involvement of these muscles may lead to eustachian tube dysfunction The present study was therefore, planned to assess the eustachian tube functions by tympanometry in cases of OSMF Out of 106 ears in 53 cases, 80 ears (75 5%) showed normal type-A curve Abnormal tympanograms included type-B curve in 17 (16 0%) and type-C curve in 9 (8 5%) ears On testing the compliance of middle ear there was shift in the compliance peaks in 78 (73 6%) ears with +200 daPa pressure change indicating normal eustachian tube functions In 28 (26 4%) ears, eustachian tube functions were found to be affected as there was no shift in the compliance peaks Similarly on-200 daPA pressure change in 24 (22 7%) ears there was no shift in compliance peaks An identical study was also carried out in 40 ears of 20 normal individuals The data derived were statistically much higher in the disease group Therefore, it was concluded that eustachian tube functions may be affected in OSMF.