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 surv ived 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 afte r radiotherapy. The test results were found to be worst at 6 months af ter radiotherapy and improved at 5 years after radiotherapy. Tubal obs truction and inflammation are the main causes of the ET malfunction th at results in otitis media with effusion (OME) in NPC patients after r adiotherapy. Insertion of a ventilation tube into the ear with OME can relieve tubal obstruction but can aggravate inflammation. Thus, myrin gotomy and aspiration of effusion and local treatment may be preferabl e to insertion of a ventilation tube in NPC patients with OME. When he aring improvement in prolonged survival of NPC patients with OME is ne eded, the use of amplification is recommended.