IRRADIATION OF THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE: AN ANATOMIC, PHYSICAL AND CLINICAL STUDY OF A TREATMENT FOR RECURRENT OTITIS MEDIA APPLIED TO AERO-OTITIS

Abstract

Exposure of the eustachian tube to radon, radium or roentgen ray will often prevent recurrent otitis media when this condition is due to excess lymphoid tissue about the pharyngeal ostium of the eustachian tube.¹ It is particularly valuable for certain cases of otitis media due to barotrauma (aero-otitis). This communication will concern itself with some of the problems which have been encountered in irradiation of the eustachian tubes of airmen. As to recurrent otitis media and deafness in other groups, the value of the treatment has already been established by Crowe, Burnam and their co-workers.² The known susceptibility of lymphoid tissue to irradiation is the basis for the use of radiation in the nasopharynx. This susceptibility was first observed in lymph nodes, but experience has shown that adenoid tissue is quite as sensitive. This has been confirmed by Schenck³ on biopsy material. It is remarkable how little radiation is required