Middle Ear, Tympanic Membrane, Perforations Workup

  • Author: Matthew L Howard, MD, JD; Chief Editor: Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA   more...
 
Updated: Apr 16, 2012
 

Imaging Studies

Radiography and MRI are of no value unless the clinical picture suggests ossicular destruction and/or cholesteatoma. Asymptomatic perforations, especially if hearing is near normal, require no imaging studies.

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Other Tests

  • Most tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs) are diagnosed using routine otoscopy.
  • Small perforations may require otomicroscopy for identification.
  • Some hearing screening programs include middle ear impedance testing.
  • Screening tympanometry may reveal abnormalities consistent with perforation. Confirmation still requires examination.
  • Always perform audiometry upon initial TMP diagnosis and again before any repair attempt, whether in the office or in the operating room.
    • Preoperative and postoperative audiography should always be performed. A major conductive loss not only alerts the surgeon to the possible existence of ossicular lesions, but documentation of a preexisting sensorineural hearing loss may protect the surgeon from later allegations that the surgery caused the hearing loss.
    • Audiometry often reveals normal hearing. The presence of mild conductive hearing loss is consistent with perforation, and a conductive component of at least 30 dB indicates possible ossicular discontinuity or a pathologic condition.
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Diagnostic Procedures

In rare cases, otomicroscopy and impedance studies still leave the tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) diagnosis questionable. To provide evidence of perforation (in the form of a stream of bubbles), fill the ear canal with sufficient distilled water or sterile saline to cover the tympanic membrane and have the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver. A negative test result is suggestive but not definitive. A positive test result is caused only by tympanic membrane perforation (TMP).

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Histologic Findings

In chronic tympanic membrane perforation (TMP), squamous epithelium is found adjacent to middle ear mucosa and creates a perforation edge with no raw surface. Such healing of the perforation edge is undoubtedly a contributing factor to perforation persistence.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Matthew L Howard, MD, JD  Head and Neck Surgery (Retired), Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Santa Rosa, California

Matthew L Howard, MD, JD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Legal Medicine, and American College of Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Carol A Bauer, MD, FACS  Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Carol A Bauer, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Neurological Association, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Gerard J Gianoli, MD  Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine; Vice President, The Ear and Balance Institute; Chief Executive Officer, Ponchartrain Surgery Center

Gerard J Gianoli, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons, and Triological Society

Disclosure: Vesticon, Inc. None Board membership

Christopher L Slack, MD  Private Practice in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders

Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA  Professor of Otolaryngology, Dentistry, and Engineering, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society

Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation Unrestricted gift Unknown; Axis Three Corporation Ownership interest Consulting; Omni Biosciences Ownership interest Consulting; Sentegra Ownership interest Board membership; Medvoy Ownership interest Management position; Cerescan Imaging Consulting; Headwatersmb Consulting fee Consulting; Venturequest Royalty Consulting

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Tympanic membrane (TM) as continuation of the upper wall of external auditory canal (EAC) with angle of incline up to 45 degrees on the border between middle ear and the EAC.
 
 
 
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