Otological Manifestations in Adults with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: A Controlled Radio-Clinical Study

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetical disease characterized by an abnormal structure or function of the cilia, causing sinusitis, otitis, and bronchiectasis. Hearing loss affects 60% of PCD patients, but data are lacking concerning hearing and temporal bone imaging in adults. Our aim was to describe clinical and radiological ear disease in adults with genetically confirmed PCD. Data were recorded from January 2018 to December 2019. PCD patients were compared with controls with bronchiectasis without PCD. Clinical examination included otomicroscopy and auditory tests. A temporal bone CT scan (TBCT) was systematically performed. Seventeen patients (34 ears) were included in each group. The eardrums were abnormal in 25 (74%) PCD ears versus 8 (24%) ears in the controls (p < 0.05). Conductive hearing loss was more frequent in the PCD group (24% vs. 12% in controls). TBCT were abnormal in 94% PCD patients vs. 32% in the controls (p < 0.05). The Main CT-scan images in PCD were middle ear inflammation (65%), mastoid condensation (62%), or ossicular anomalies (35%). With its excellent sensitivity, TBCT gives typical arguments for PCD diagnosis, adding otological signs to the usual sinus CT signs (hypoplasia, aplasia). Systematic TBCT could be useful in the initial evaluation of patients with suspicion of PCD.