Analysis of glue ear secretions showed that the total protein content was slightly higher than in serum and that in the effusion proteins appeared that were specific to the mucosal secretion. The cellular analysis of samples from 137 ears showed that lymphocytes and neutrophils predominated, and that monocytes and phagocytes appeared in most specimens. Eosinophils and mast cells were rare. Staining of bacteria in the smear was seen in one-third of the slides and the mucus strands were numerous. The cellular picture is in line with an infective etiology.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PolitzerA: Diagnose und Therapie der Ansamlung seröser Flüssigkeit in der Trommelhöhle. Wien Med Wochenschr17:244, 1867.
2.
ProetzAW: Allergy in the middle and internal ear. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol40:67–76, 1931.
3.
KochH: Allergical Investigations of Chronic Otitis, thesis. Univ. of Lund, 1947. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) [Suppl] 62, 1947.
4.
BryanWTK: The identification and clinical significance of large phagocytes in the exudates of acute otitis media and mastoiditis. Laryngoscope63:559–580, 1953.
5.
OjalaLPalvaT: Macrophages in aural secretions and their clinical significance. Laryngoscope65:670–692, 1955.
6.
SenturiaBHGessertCFCarrCD: Studies concerned with tubotympanitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol67:440–467, 1958.
7.
SadéJCarrCDSenturiaBH: Middle ear effusions produced experimentally in dogs. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol68:1017–1027, 1959.
8.
SenturiaBHGessertCFCarrCD: Middle ear effusions: causes and treatment. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol64:60–72, 1960.
9.
SadéJ: Pathology and pathogenesis of serous otitis media. Arch Otolaryngol84:297–305, 1966.
10.
PalvaTPalvaA: Mucosal histochemistry in secretory otitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol84:112–116, 1975.
11.
PalvaTRaunioVNousiainenR: Secretory otitis media: protein and enzyme analyses. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol83 (Suppl 11, 35–43), 1974.
12.
PalvaTRaunioVNousiainenR: Middle ear specific proteins in glue ears. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh), to be published.
13.
PalvaTRaunioV: The role of middle ear mucosa in secretory otitis media. J Laryngol Otol, to be published.
14.
TosMBak-PedersenK: The outset of chronic secretory otitis media. Arch Otolaryngol101:123–128, 1975.
15.
MogiGHonjoSMaedaS: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in middle ear effusions. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol83:393–398, 1974.
16.
BernsteinJMPersmanR: The role of acute hypersensitivity in secretory otitis media. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol78:120–127, 1974.
17.
FriedmannI: The pathology of secretory otitis media. Proc R Soc Med56:695–699, 1963.
18.
KokkoE: Chronic Secretory Otitis Media in Children, thesis. Univ. of Oulu, 1974. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) [Suppl] 327, 1974.
19.
LiuYSLimDJLangRW: Chronic middle ear effusions. Immunochemical and bacteriological investigations. Arch Otolaryngol, to be published.
20.
BernsteinJMTomasiTBJrOgraP: The immunochemistry of middle ear effusions. Arch Otolaryngol99:320–326, 1974.
21.
LimDVViallJBirckH: Symposium on prophylaxis and treatment of middle ear effusions. I. The morphological basis for understanding middle ear effusions. Laryngoscope82:1625–1642, 1972.
