Histological evidence of adenoid mast cells indicating a role in otitis media with effusion (OME)

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Date
2001-11
Authors
Abdullah, Baharudin
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Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is an inflammation of the middle ear in which a collection of liquid is present in the middle ear space while the tympanic membrane is intact. The pathogenesis of otitis media is multifactorial which includes factors such as adenoids hypertrophy, infection (viral or bacteria), allergy, environment and social factors. The association between adenoid and OME has long been noted but the exact mechanism is still much debated. We studied the role of adenoid mast cells in the causation of OME. To study the distribution and a role of adenoid mast cells in the causation of otitis media with effusion. A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out in Otorhinolaryngologic Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ORL), Science University of Malaysia (USM) from June 1999 to September 2001. A total number of 50 cases were studied. 25 of the patients studied underwent adenoidectomy while another 25 patients underwent adenoidectomy and myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion. The adenoid specimens from all patients were taken and studied for the number of adenoid mast cell using toluidine blue as the staining agent and light microscopy to count the number of mast cell. The results were analysed using SPSS version 10. The majority of the patients with chronic adenoiditis had snoring while most of the patients having otitis media with effusion had hearing impairment. Audiometry showed most patients having otitis media with effusion had moderate conductive hearing loss. The population of adenoid mast cell of children with OME was significantly denser than without OME( p value = 0.000). There is no significant difference between age in the two groups. No statistically significant correlation was found between race and gender with outcome. The increased number of adenoid mast cells in patients having otitis media with effusion suggest that inflammation may play a role in their pathogenesis.
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Otitis media with effusion (OME)
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