Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 17, Issue 7 427-430, Copyright © 1998 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Preliminary use of endoluminal ultrasonography in assessment of middle ear with effusion
C. H. Wu, C. J. Hsu and F. J. Hsieh
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei.
Endoluminal ultrasonography with small-caliber and high-frequency
transducer is suitable for transcanal assessment of middle ear with
effusion. An endoluminal ultrasound transducer (size 6 French, 20 MHz) with
a side-viewing scanning plane was used to image 12 ears of six children
suspected of having effusion in the middle ear. Sonographic findings were
compatible with those of operation in 10 diseased ears. One false-negative
result was obtained, and one trial was aborted owing to trauma to the canal
wall. The present study proves utility in demonstrating fluid behind the
tympanic membrane. A promising use of endoluminal ultrasonography for
middle ear evaluation might be expected if some modification could be made
to the transducer.
