Histopathological changes of chorda tympani in chronic otitis media

Objective: To investigate whether histopathological changes of chorda tympa ni might exist in patients with chronic otitis media without facial paralys is. Study Design: The study was designed as a prospective trial. Methods: Twenty of 107 patients with chronic otitis media, in whom the chor da tympani were injured inadvertently during middle ear surgery; were enrol led into the study. The cases were divided into two groups based on the act ivity of chronic infection at the time of surgery. Twelve cases with suppur ative disease were included in group I, and 8 cases with dry ear in group I I. Results: Histopathological examinations of the specimens revealed findings such as thickening of perineural and epineural connective tissue, vacuolar degeneration of Schwann cells, and proliferation of fibroblasts in endoneur ium. Disorganization of the axons of some nerve fibers was also determined. Conclusion: Based on the histopathological changes of chorda tympani in chr onic middle ear disease, it is postulated that chronic otitis media may giv e rise to functional loss of the nerve.