Noninvasive depth‐resolved optical measurements of the tympanic membrane and middle ear for differentiating otitis media. (19th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monroy, Guillermo L.; Shelton, Ryan L.; Nolan, Ryan M.; Nguyen, Cac T.; Novak, Michael A.; Hill, Malcolm C.; McCormick, Daniel T.; Boppart, Stephen A.
• Is Part Of: Laryngoscope. Volume 125:Number 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: E276
• Page End: E282
• Publication Date: 2015-01-19
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.25141
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-852X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="lary25141-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective/Hypothesis</title> <p>In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used to noninvasively and quantitatively determine tympanic membrane (TM) thickness and the presence and thickness of any middle‐ear biofilm located behind the TM. These new metrics offer the potential to differentiate normal, acute, and chronic otitis media (OM) infections in pediatric subjects.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary25141-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design</title> <p>Case series with comparison group.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary25141-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The TM thickness of 34 pediatric subjects was acquired using a custom‐built, handheld OCT system following a traditional otoscopic ear exam.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary25141-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Overall thickness (TM and any associated biofilm) was shown to be statistically different for normal, acute, and chronic infection groups (normal‐acute and normal‐chronic: <italic>P</italic> value < 0.001; acute‐chronic: <italic>P</italic> value = 0.0016). Almost all observed scans from the chronic group had an accompanying biofilm structure. When the thickness of the TM and biofilm were considered separately in chronic OM, the chronic TM thickness correlated with the normal group (<italic>P</italic> value = 0.68) yet was still distinct from the acute OM group (<italic>P</italic> value < 0.001), indicating that the TM in chronic OM returns to relatively normal thickness levels.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary25141-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Identifying these physical changes in vivo provides new metrics for noninvasively and quantitatively differentiating normal, acute, and chronic OM. This new diagnostic information has the potential to assist physicians to more effectively and efficiently screen, manage, and refer patients based on quantitative data.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary25141-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Level of Evidence</title> <p>4. <italic>Laryngoscope</italic>, 125:E276–E282, 2015</p> </sec> </abstract>