Tympanoplasty for Chronic Otitis Media in Post-Irradiated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the surgical outcome of tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media in post-irradiated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Nineteen ears were treated in 15 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had undergone radiotherapy in this retrospective clinical series. Only patients with simple perforations of the tympanic membrane and normal or near-normal eustachian tube function were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent type I tympanoplasty. Results: All patients had been treated with radiotherapy of 64.8 to 81.0 Gy. The intervals between radiotherapy and surgery ranged from 17 months to 20 years. The tympanic membranes in 10 of 19 ears were intact after surgery. Otorrhea had subsided in 11 ears (58%), and the incidence of otorrhea was decreased in 6 ears (32%). Thirteen of the 15 patients (86.7%) reported that their quality of life had improved. Conclusions: Surgical intervention benefits some patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma with chronic otitis media resulting from radiotherapy.