Dynamics of eardrum changes following secretory otitis. A prospective study.

Children with secretory otitis who, during the period from 1970 through 1975, had been treated with adenoidectomy and insertion of ventilating tubes were reexamined three to eight years after treatment and, again, ten to 16 years after treatment. The changes of the tympanic membranes were analyzed with regard to the occurrence of attic retractions and changes of the pars tensa of the membranae tympani. At the first follow-up examination, varying degrees of attic retractions were found in 37% of ears and, at the second follow-up examination, in 27% of ears. This general improvement was mainly due to normalization of the slight retractions, whereas the frequency of severe retractions increased. Pathology of the pars tensa of the membranae tympani was found in 57% of ears at the first examination and comprised the following: tympanosclerosis (19%), tympanosclerosis and atrophy (10%), atrophy (22%), atrophy and pexi (3%), and adhesive otitis (3%). At the second follow-up examination, pathology of the pars tensa of the membranae tympani occurred in 58.05% of ears and was distributed as follows: tympanosclerosis (26%), atrophy and tympanosclerosis (11%), atrophy (14%), atrophy and pexi (5%), adhesive otitis (2%), and sinus cholesteatoma (0.5%).