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Published on: April 18, 2019
Testing Eustachian Tube Function
Nathan J Creber1, Matthew E Smith2, James R Tysome2
1Department of Otolaryngology, The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction exists along a spectrum from obstructive to patulous phenotypes, yet no single gold-standard diagnostic test exists. This review examines current methods for assessing ET function alongside evolving therapeutic interventions. Clinical assessment and patient-reported outcome measures alone have limited diagnostic power. Objective tests, including tympanometry, advanced manometric techniques, and sonotubometry, each offer distinct strengths and limitations. Evidence shows that individual tests demonstrate variable sensitivity and specificity and perform best when combined. An integrated diagnostic approach that incorporates clinical history within a curated pathway of complementary objective measures is advocated to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide intervention selection.
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