[Correlation between patulous Eustachian tube with habitual nasal extraction and acquired middle ear cholesteatoma]

Objective: By comparing the clinical characteristics of patulous Eustachian tube with habitual nasal extraction and those of non-Eustachian tube abnormalities, we aimed to investigate the relationship between patulous Eustachian tube and acquired cholesteatoma of middle ear. Methods: A total of 218 patients in Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from November 2011 to November 2016 who underwent surgical treatment and with complete data of acquired cholesteatoma of middle ear were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: patulous Eustachian tube with habitual nasal extraction and non-Patulous Eustachian tube. Their ages of onset , sides, characteristics of acoustic immitance, clinical manifestations, prognosis and complications were compared. The statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 19.0 software. Results: Among the 218 cases of acquired cholesteatoma of the middle ear, 22 cases were diagnosed as patulous Eustachian tube with habitual nasal extraction [with average age of (35.7±7.5) years]; 196 cases were diagnosed as non-patulous Eustachian tube [with average age of (47.8±20.1) years]. The average age of the patulous Eustachian tube with habitual nasal extraction was significantly lower than that of the non-patulous Eustachian tube group (t=4.25, P<0.01). Ratio of bilateral middle ear cholesteatoma in patulous Eustachian tube [68.2%(15/22)] was significantly higher than that of the non-patulous Eustachian tube group [18.9%(37/196)] (χ(2)=26.47, P<0.01). Conclusions: Some acquired cholesteatoma patients are associated with the patulous Eustachian tube with habitual nasal extraction. The patients have a lower age, and are susceptible for bilateral middle ear cholesteatoma.