A method for the histopathological analysis of the temporal bone and the eustachian tube and its accessory structures.

A very important contribution to the study of otitis media, one of the diseases most often seen in pediatric patients, is the collection, processing, and study of the specimens of the temporal bone and the entire eustachian tube. During the last few years, we have collected, processed, and studied 100 such specimens, and through these experiences our technique has become refined. We now have some important suggestions for otologists interested in the histological study of otitis media as well as in the pathology of the eustachian tube and its relation to middle ear abnormalities. This report details the most successful method for the study of eustachian tube abnormalities and their relationship to middle ear effusion.