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Paediatric otoscopy—clinical and histological correlation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Carlos B. Ruah ,
Ezequiel Barros ,
Samuel B. Ruah ,
Rui S. Penha ,
Patricia Schachern  and
Michael M. Paparella
Carlos B. Ruah*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital D. Estefånia, Lisbon, Portugal.
Ezequiel Barros
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital D. Estefånia, Lisbon, Portugal.
Samuel B. Ruah
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital D. Estefånia, Lisbon, Portugal.
Rui S. Penha
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal.
Patricia Schachern
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota Otitis Media Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, and the Minnesota Ear, Head and Neck Clinic, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Michael M. Paparella
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota Otitis Media Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, and the Minnesota Ear, Head and Neck Clinic, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
*
Carlos B. Ruah, R. Rodrigo da Fonseca, 127–3°-Dto. 1000 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Abstract

Otoscopy is a subjective clinical method. Its subjectivity has led physicians to verify its accuracy through correlations with findings of otomicroscopy, pneumatic otoscopy, tympanometry, and myringotomy. In the very young population, however, the interpretation of otoscopic findings becomes more difficult. To improve the interpretation of normal otoscopy in young children, an otoscopic-histological correlation was attempted in children up to nine years of age. Twenty-one temporal bones from 15 children aged from two days to nine years who had no evidence of otological disease or congenital anomalies were examined under light microscopy; the thickness of the pars flaecida, posterior superior quadrant, and umbo were measured. Twenty-five eardrums of 15 healthy children without past or present history of otological disease were examined using otoscopy; a photograph of each eardrum was obtained. Our study demonstrates that structural changes in the tympanic membrane during these years of childhood have a good correlation with otoscopic findings. Understanding normal histological changes in the paediatric eardrum may improve our interpretation of otoscopic findings.

Keywords

OtoscopyPaediatric
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 106 , Issue 4 , April 1992 , pp. 307 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

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