Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between unilateral chronic otitis media (COM) and eustachian tube angle and nasal septal angle.

METHODS: The study included 79 patients (40 males, 39 females; mean age 41.0±13.5 years; range, 18 to 60 years) who were operated in our clinic due to unilateral COM. Unilateral COM was used as the patient group and the other healthy ear was used as the control group. Patients’ eustachian tube and nasal septal deviation angles were measured using their preoperative temporal bone computed tomography imaging and the data were compared.

RESULTS: No statistically significant correlation was detected between the patient and control groups in terms of the septal angle and eustachian tube angle (p=0.346 and p=0.312, respectively). Also, there was no statistically significant correlation between the patient and control groups in terms of the eustachian tube angle averages (p=0.748).

CONCLUSION: Although the structural and functional features of the eustachian tube are significant in terms of middle ear diseases, we did not find any statistically significant difference in eustachian tube angle averages. In addition, we did not detect any significant difference in relation to septal angle between the intact ear and diseased ear.