Eustachian tube function of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Prolonged observations of the eustachian tube (ET) function were made on 40 ears of 20 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who survived more than 5 years after radiotherapy in a state of remission. The ET function tests included passive opening, inflation-deflation, and clearance, and were performed before, at 6 months, and at 5 years after radiotherapy. The test results were found to be worst at 6 months after radiotherapy and improved at 5 years after radiotherapy. Tubal obstruction and inflammation are the main causes of the ET malfunction that results in otitis media with effusion (OME) in NPC patients after radiotherapy. Insertion of a ventilation tube into the ear with OME can relieve tubal obstruction but can aggravate inflammation. Thus, myringotomy and aspiration of effusion and local treatment may be preferable to insertion of a ventilation tube in NPC patients with OME. When hearing improvement in prolonged survival of NPC patients with OME is needed, the use of amplification is recommended.