Eustachian tube submucosal glands in normal and pathological temporal bones

Abstract

Histological data concerning the structure and the topographical distribution of the eustachian tube submucosal glands is presented in 94 serially-sectioned temporal bones with and without otitis media. The vast majority of the tubal glands are located adjacent to the nasopharynx in the pharyngeal and midportion regions. Mixed glands which contain equal amounts of mucoid and serous elements are found in all age groups, in most specimens, either with or without otitis media. Furthermore, the glandular tissue, along these two medial regions of the tube, does not disclose significant quantitative differences between normal and inflamed specimens. Temporal bones without otitis media harbour few glands in the lateral four regions of the tube, while those with otitis media show a moderate increase of gland formation which is more noticeable in the pretympanum than in the regions around the isthmus (pre-isthmus, isthmus and post-isthmus regions). It is apparent that chronic inflammatory conditions like simple chronic otitis media and secretory otitis media are more often accompanied by gland formation, along the lateral four regions of the tube than acute otitis media.