Place of Tubomanometry in Patulous Eustachian Tube Diagnosis

The aim of our study was to describe the diagnostic performances of tubomanometry (TMM) and to determine tubomanometric parameter thresholds for the diagnosis of patulous eustachian tube (PET).

We performed a retrospective, monocentric study, including patients treated for PET vs control group.

This study was performed at the Otolaryngology Department of a tertiary-care hospital in the south of France.

We collected epidemiologic and clinical data, as well as adjusted opening latency index ("R"-index), rhinopharyngeal pressure threshold of tubal opening (Po), and velar contraction index (IVC) on TMM. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for determination of R index and Po thresholds.

Twenty-one patients (26 patulous ears) and 14 controls (24 normal ears) were included. The R index values and Po values were significantly lower in the PET group vs controls (0.46 vs 0.80, respectively; P < .05 for R index and 13.89 vs 26.42 mbar, respectively; P < .05 for Po). No significant difference was reported between the 2 groups on IVC measurement (P = .784). After ROC curve analysis, R index was the most discriminating factor to classify PET patients with 89% specificity and 76% sensitivity with a threshold ≤0.6. Po value ≤10 mbar could support this diagnosis with more than 83% specificity.

TMM is a reliable noninvasive method for positive diagnosis of PET. TMM could provide an accurate positive PET diagnosis and an objective evaluation for PET management.