Evaluation of the relationship of chronic otitis media with the Körner's septum, auditory tube angle, and tubotympanic angle.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between chronic otitis media (COM) and the characteristics of Auditory tube (Eustachian) angle (ATa), tubotympanic angle (TTa), and Körner's septum (KS). METHODS: A retrospective research was conducted between January 2019 and October 2019. The computed tomography (CT) results and medical files of 210 patients were evaluated. According to CT results and medical files, the patients were evaluated regarding the presence of COM, KS, ATa, and TTa. RESULTS: There were 113 (53.81%) males and 97 (46.19%) females in the study group, and the mean age of the patients was 42.05 ± 10.77 years. The frequency of the KS was significantly higher in patients who were diagnosed with COM (35.66% vs. 7.41%, p < 0.001). The patients diagnosed with COM were found to have a narrower ATa and a wider TTa than the patients who were not diagnosed with COM. ATa was narrower and TTa was wider in patients with KS. The presence of KS and higher TTa value were considered as risk factors for COM (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) CONCLUSION:  Our findings indicate that ATa was narrower, TTa was wider and KS was more frequent in patients with COM. Analysis of risk factors demonstrated that increased TTa and the presence of KS were associated with increased risk for COM.