Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T11:26:11.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Epithelial migration in open mastoidectomy cavities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Robin Youngs*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 1P33 2QZ.
*
Address for correspondence: Robin Youngs, M.D., F.R.C.S. Department of Otolaryngology, West Suffolk Hospital. Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 1P33 2QZ.

Abstract

Twenty patients who had undergone open cavity mastoidectomy for chronic middle ear disease were selected for study. Following initial microscopic aural toilet, each cavity was painted in its medial aspect with a marker solution of Bonney's Blue dye. Each patient was assessed at weekly intervals for a minimum of three months following application of dye, and a photographic record made of the cavity. Information was also sought regarding the clinical behaviour of the mastoid cavities, with particular regard to degree of otorrhoea, and accumulation of debris. Migration of epithelium inferred by visible movement of dye occurred in 17 of the 20 mastoid cavities. In all these cases migration occurred in a medial to lateral direction, towards the exterior. In two cases there was no visible migration throughout the period of observation, and inspection after six months revealed the dye to be still present in the original position. Both these cases were of dry trouble-free cavities in which accumulation of debris did not appear to be a problem. This finding calls into question the assumption that clean trouble-free cavities are maintained by a satisfactorily functioning epithelial migration. In the four cavities which suffered from intermittent otorrhoea, epithelial migration occurred at a similar rate to that in dry cavities.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alberti, P. W. R. M. (1964) Epithelial migration on the tympanic membrane. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 78: 808830.Google Scholar
Beales, P. H. (1959) The problem of the mastoid segment after tympanoplasty. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 73: 527531.Google Scholar
Blake, C. J. (1882) The progressive growth of the dermoid coat of the membrana tympani. American Journal of Otology 4: 266268.Google Scholar
Boedts, D., Kuypers, W. (1978) Epithelial migration on the tympanic membrane. Acta Otolaryngologica (Stockholm) 95: 248252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonding, P., Charabi, S. (1992) Epithelium migration in ears with a cavity after surgery. In Cholesteatoma and Mastoid Surgery. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference. Niigata, Japan, September 8–12, 1992, Kugler. Amsterdam. pp 7375.Google Scholar
Burnett, C. H. (1877) The Ear: its Anatomy, Physiology and Diseases, 1st Edition, Henry C. Lea & Son & Co.Philadeihia, PA.Google Scholar
Guilford, F. R. (1962) Tympanic grafts: personal experiences with surgical repair of tympanic perforations. Laryngoscope 72: 10281052.Google Scholar
Johnson, A., Hawke, W. M. (1985) Cell shape in the migratory epidermis of the external auditory canal. Journal of Otolaryngology 14: 273281.Google Scholar
Johnson, A., Hawke, W. M. (1986) An ink impregnation study of the migratory skin in the external auditory canal of the guinea pig. Acta Orolaryngologica (Stockholm) 101: 269277.Google Scholar
Kuster, E. (1889) The treatment of suppuration of rigid-walled cavities. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 15: 185.Google Scholar
Litton, W. B. (1963) Epithelial migration over tympanic membrane and external canal. Archives of Otolarvngology 77: 254257.Google Scholar
Makino, K., Amatsu, M. (1986) Epithelial migration on the tympanic membrane and external canal. Archives of Otorhinolaryngology 243: 3942.Google Scholar
Palva, T. (1982) Obliteration of the mastoid cavity and reconstruction of the canal wall. In International Medical Reviews: Otolaryngology 1: Otology. (Gibb, A. G., Smith, M. F eds.), Butterworths, London, pp 1929.Google Scholar
Smelt, G., Hawke, W. M. (1986) A paradigm for tympanic epithelial dispersion. Journal of Orolaryngology 16: 336343.Google Scholar
Thorburn, I. B. (1960) A critical review of tympanoplastic surgery. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 74: 453474.Google Scholar
Weir, N. (1990) Otolaryngology - an Illustrated History, Butterworths London p. 83.Google Scholar
Wuullstein, H. (1956) Theory and practice of tympanoplasty. Laryngoscope 66: 10761093.Google Scholar
Youngs, R. P. (1992) The histopathology of mastoidectomy cavities with particular reference to persistent otorrhoea. Clinical Otolaryngology 17: 505510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Youngs, R. P. (1993) Temporal bone histopathology of open mastoid cavities. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 107: 569573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Youngs, R. P., Hawke, W. M., Ekem, J. K., Stratis, M. (1988) Corneocyte architecture in the human external auditory meatus. Journal of Otolaryngology 17: 244248.Google Scholar
Youngs, R. P.. Hawke, W. M. (1988) Stratum corneum morphology in the human tympanic membrane and external auditory meatus. Journal of Orolaryngology 17: 346351.Google ScholarPubMed