Complications of tympanostomy tubes in head and neck cancer patients.

Complications of tympanostomy tubes in head and neck cancer patients.

Am J Otolaryngol. 2015 Oct 20;

Authors: Shah JO, Herrera SJ, Roberts DB, Gunn GB, Gidley PW

Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess myringotomy plus tympanostomy tube (MTT) complication rates in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with otitis media (OM).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 182 HNC patients with OM treated between January 2000 and October 2007 for demographic data and data about MTT-related complications, tumor type and outcomes following MTT.
RESULTS: We identified OM in 35 nasopharyngeal (NP), 34 paranasal sinus (PNS), and 24 larynx cancer patient ears; of these, 29 (83%), 31 (91%), and 22 (92%), respectively, were treated with MTT. Of the 29 NP cancer patient ears treated with MTT, 13 (45%) received MTT before radiotherapy; complications included otorrhea in 11 ears (38%), otorrhea with perforation in 3 ears (10%), and cholesteatoma in 1 ear (3%). Of the 31 PNS cancer patient ears treated with MTT, 17 (55%) received MTT before radiotherapy; complications included otorrhea in 10 ears (32%) and otorrhea with perforation in 3 ears (10%). All 22 laryngeal cancer patient ears were treated with MTT before radiotherapy; 5 ears (23%) developed chronic otorrhea. Patients with pre-existing eustachian tube dysfunction had significantly higher rates of tympanostomy tube otorrhea (p=.009).
CONCLUSIONS: The complication rates of OM in the setting of NP or PNS cancer were not significantly different regardless of intervention timing in relation to radiotherapy. Laryngectomy patients had a high rate of tympanostomy sequelae after radiotherapy. MTT for OM has high complication rates in HNC patients.

PMID: 26719198 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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