[Radiological study of the permeability of the eustachian tube. Personal procedure]

An original method for visualizing the Eustachian tube using micropulverized barium sulfate is described. The contrast substance must be insufflated under air pressure into the Eustachian tube by means of a catheter. Radiologic images as axial projections of base of skull allow detailed analysis of anteriorly insufflated tubes. Analysis of findings using this method on 306 tubes showed that filling with contrast was total in 83.8%, partial in 11.1% and absent in 5.1%.