Eosinophilic Otitis Media with Cochlear Dysfunction

An Investigation into a Cochlear Implant Patient

Abstract

So-called eosinophilic otitis media is an intractable otitis media characterized by bilateral, consistent viscous middle ear effusion, and severe granulation in the middle ear. Patients with this otitis media also have mature onset bronchial asthma. The pure-tone audiometry of these patients reveal various types, and some of them show severe and progressive sensorineural hearing loss. We reported a case with cochlear implant in a 59-year-old man with ‘eosinophilic otitis media’ who received treatment for bronchial asthma for seven years. He visited our department complaining of consistent otorrhea and progressive bilateral hearing impairment. The pure tone audiogram showed bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss. With the bronchial asthma and otorrhea, under control, we performed cochlear implantation in his right ear. He was able to distinguish his family's voice immediately after the first fitting. We speculated that this inner ear dysfunction was associated with ischaemic changes caused by secreting inflammatory cytokines in addition to adhesion molecules.