Comparing audiological and radiological contralateral ear findings with the type of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM): Results from a tertiary care centre of Gwalior

Abstract

The contralateral ear (CLE) is defined as the asymptomatic ear in unilateral chronic supportive otitis media (CSOM). Prevalence in India was found to be around 7.8% which is highest globally.To compare audio logical and radiological CLE findings with the mucosal and squamosal types of CSOM.Three hundred CSOM patients were studied in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery from February 2017 to August 2018. All the patients were examined with otoscope. Pure tone audiometry, X-ray mastoids lateral oblique view, tympanogram and CT scan temporal bone were performed.CSOM was more prevalent among females (54%) of young age group (41.6%).In mucosal CSOM, in diseased ear maximum patients (56.85%)had hearing loss between 25-40 dB, while in squamosal CSOM, majority patients (38.4%)had 40-55 dB hearing loss. In contralateral ear of mucosal CSOM maximum patients (85%) had 15-25 dB hearing loss, while in squamosal CSOM, 71.1% had 15-25 dB hearing loss. In mucosal CSOM, majority had type Atympanogram (79.03%) in CLE whereas in squamosal CSOM, 61.53% had type A tympanogram.Incidence of abnormality in CLE was high in patients of unilateral CSOM. Both ear should be considered together as development of CSOM is a continuous process and can affect both the ears.