Eustachian Tube Growth and Development
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Other Indications, Infectious Disease |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Immunology / Infectious Diseases, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 3 - 3 |
| Updated: | 2/24/2019 |
| Start Date: | August 2006 |
| End Date: | August 24, 2018 |
Eustachian Tube Growth and Development: Anatomy/Function
This study is to measure over time (from 3 years until 13 years of age) Eustachian tube
function (the way the Eustachian tube works) and facial growth in groups of children with two
types of middle-ear disease and with little past middle-ear disease. These measures will be
used to determine if facial growth is related to improved Eustachian tube function, to see if
the better function explains why young children who have middle-ear disease outgrow it as
they get older, and to determine if these measures are different for the children in the
three groups defined by disease history.
function (the way the Eustachian tube works) and facial growth in groups of children with two
types of middle-ear disease and with little past middle-ear disease. These measures will be
used to determine if facial growth is related to improved Eustachian tube function, to see if
the better function explains why young children who have middle-ear disease outgrow it as
they get older, and to determine if these measures are different for the children in the
three groups defined by disease history.
The existing literature documents an important role for the Eustachian tube (ET) in the
pathogenesis and/or persistence of otitis media (OM). Cross-sectional studies report a lower
prevalence of OM in older children, a better ET pressure-regulating function in older
children and age-related differences in ET form, length and width, and the vector orientation
of the paratubal musculature. These growth-related changes in ET structural relationships are
demonstrably predictive of increasingly more efficient ET function (ETF) and, because the ET
and paratubal musculature are intimately related to the cranial base, the vector orientation
of the ET system can be reconstructed from osteological or radiographic data. Together, these
observations suggest that measurable, age-related changes in ET-paratubal muscle vector
relationships are reflected in more efficient ETF and, by consequence, a decreased OM risk.
The overall goal of the proposed longitudinal study is to evaluate the validity of this
hypothesis.
pathogenesis and/or persistence of otitis media (OM). Cross-sectional studies report a lower
prevalence of OM in older children, a better ET pressure-regulating function in older
children and age-related differences in ET form, length and width, and the vector orientation
of the paratubal musculature. These growth-related changes in ET structural relationships are
demonstrably predictive of increasingly more efficient ET function (ETF) and, because the ET
and paratubal musculature are intimately related to the cranial base, the vector orientation
of the ET system can be reconstructed from osteological or radiographic data. Together, these
observations suggest that measurable, age-related changes in ET-paratubal muscle vector
relationships are reflected in more efficient ETF and, by consequence, a decreased OM risk.
The overall goal of the proposed longitudinal study is to evaluate the validity of this
hypothesis.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 3 years of age
- History of middle ear disease must fit into one of the 3 categories of ear history
- With or without patent tympanostomy tubes at time of entry
- Generally good health
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cleft palate or other syndromes predisposing to otitis
- History of significant orthodontic treatment or plan for such
- Cholesteatoma or other past ear surgery other than tubes
- Unable to cooperate for testing
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