Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Staff Radiologist Bert De Foer, Sint-Augustinus Hospital, Belgium
- Second opponent: Chief Physician Bo Tideholm, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Emerita Ragnhild Emblem, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Emeritus Kjell Brøndbo, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Head Physician Einar Hopp, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
This thesis consists of three radiological studies in the field of Ear-nose and throat. The Eustachian tube (ET) is a major contributor to maintaining middle ear health and function by equalizing pressure, clearing mucus and pathogens, and by protecting the middle ear from the body’s many sounds. Chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction is a condition with failure in one or more of these functions over a period of three months or more. In addition to nasal steroids and tympanic drainage tubes, balloon dilation of the cartilaginous portion has shown effect. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) is regularly performed to exclude other pathology and anatomical variants. We hypothesized that the CT images could contribute more information with some modification in protocol with focal contrast medium and / or detailed measurements. We have studied the feasibility of visualising the cartilaginous portion of the ET using focal contrast media in the middle ear on CT images in both an animal and a human model. In addition, we have measured the length of the cartilaginous portion and studied the impact it has on development of middle ear disease and outcome after treatment with balloon Eustachian tuboplasty.
We found that the ET lumen can be visualised on CT images using focal contrast medium application in the middle ear in rabbits and in humans. No serious adverse events occurred, and no inflammatory reactions were recorded. The length of the cartilaginous ET did not influence development of disease or treatment outcome.
Additional information
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