Otological Diseases in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional study to determine the pattern of manifestations of otological diseases among patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess otological symptoms, followed by a general physical and ear examination. Pure tone audiometry and tympanometry in CML subjects and matched control subjects were also performed. There were 58 subjects constituting 32(55.2%) males. History of hearing loss and tinnitus was given by 13(22.4%) of the CML subjects. Audiometry however revealed a higher prevalence of 38(65.5%) of hearing impairment. The mode of onset of the hearing impairment in the self-reported cases was sudden in 9(69.2%) and in 7 (53.8%) the hearing loss preceded the diagnosis of CML. Vertigo was seen in 4 (30.8%) of the thirteen CML subjects with selfreported hearing loss. Hearing loss was found to be prevalent in CML despite lower prevalence of self-reported cases was found.