Ultrastructure of the Middle-Ear Mucosa in Secretory Otitis Media: I. Serous Effusion

Abstract

Mucosal biopsies from the middle ear of patients with secretory otitis media and serous effusion were studied by electron microscopy. This confirmed that the effusion is produced by active secretion from an epithelium without signs of degeneration: Two types of secretory cell were demonstrated: one with mucigen-like granules and one with dark secretory granules and apocrine secretion, possibly serous-secreting. Compared with the normal middle ear mucosa, the number of secretory cells had increased while the number of ciliated cells had decreased. There were signs of ciliated cells being transformed into secretory cells.