The "TIP algorithm" for the accurate diagnosis of pediatric otitis media

The authors studied the correlation between the grading TIP which evaluates three otoendoscopic characteristics of the tympanic membrane (TM) (transparency, integrity and position) with the gold standard represented by the impedenzometry.

Cross-sectional studies with independent and blind comparison with the gold standard diagnostic. The setting was primary care and ambulatory. 115 TMs were examined (57 right and 58 left) of 60 children (36 males and 24 females) and classified according to the TIP grading (transparency, integrity, position). Each patient underwent otoendoscopy to obtain TIP grading and subsequently to tympanometry, which was considered the gold standard for diagnosis. The Transparency is the condition in which at least one or more structures behind the TM are visible: promontory, incudo-malleolar and incudo-stapedial articulations. The Integrity is such when no holes in the TM are visible. The TM must be displayed up to the anulus. The position of the TM is evaluated according to the handle and the short apophysis of the malleus. The correlation between TIP grade and tympanometry was measured by the "Chi Square" test.

The method showed an average sensitivity and specificity of the three TIP parameters (TIP1 TIP2, TIP 4) versus tympanometry of 95.6% (I.C. 90.1-98.5); PPV and PPN 95.6 (I.C 90.3%-98.1%) Positive Likelihood Ratio 22,000 (I.C. 9.327 to 51.894) Negative Likelihood Ratio 0.045 0.019 to 0.107.

Grading TIP is a valid method for accurate diagnosis of pediatric otitis media and can predict the tympanometry result with high statistical significance.