Summary
Chronic suppurative otitis media often ensues in patients treated with irradiation against a head and neck tumor. In an experimental study, rats were exposed to irradiation to evaluate the sensitivity of the middle ear to an accumulated irradiation dose of 20–45 Gy. Observed otomicroscopically, all animals appeared to have normal tympanic membranes and no fluid developed in the middle ear space. Ten days after the irradiation, minor structural changes had occurred in the pars flaccida. The keratinizing epithelium had thickened and mitoses were seen histologically. The lamina propria was edematous and contained polymorphonuclear cells and macrophages. The middle ear mucosa from all other tissue sites appeared normal. Six months after irradiation only minor changes in the pars flaccida were evident: the lamina propria was thin and inelastic and macrophages were present in the stroma. It is inferred from this study that the middle ear of the rat is relatively resistant to irradiation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler M, Hawke M, Berger G,Harwood A (1985) Radiation effects on the external auditory canal. J Otolaryngol 14:226–232
Albiin N, Hellström S, Salén B, Stenfors L-E, Wirell S (1985) The vascular supply of the rat tympanic membrane. Anat Rec 212:17–22
Alm PE, Bloom GD, Hellström S, Stenfors L-E, Widemar L (1983) Mast cells of the pars flaccida of the tympanic membrane. A quantitative morphological and biochemical study in the rat. Experientia 39:287–289
Berg N, Lindgren M (1961) Dose factors and morphology of delayed radiation lesions of the internal and middle ear in rabbits. Acta Radiol 56:305–319
Bohne B, Marks J, Glasgow G (1985) Delayed effects of ionizing radiation on the ear. Laryngoscope 95:818–828
Borsanyi S, Blanchard C, Thorne B (1961) The effects of ionizing radiation on the ear. Ann Otol 70:255–262
Coplan J, Ernest M, Richman R, Grimes C (1981) Hearing loss after therapy with radiation. Am J Dis Child 135:1066–1067
Dias A (1966) Effects on the hearing of patients treated by irradiation in the head and neck area. J Laryngol Otol 80:276–287
Elwany S (1985) Delayed ultrastructural radiation induced changes in the human mesotympanic middle ear mucosa. J Laryngol Otol 99:343–353
Franzén L, Gustafsson H, Sundström S, Karlsson M, Littbrand B, Henriksson R (1993) Fractionated irradiation and late changes in salivary glands: effects on the density of acinar cells, potassium efflux, and amylase secretion. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (in press)
Gamble J, Peterson E, Chandler JR (1968) Radiation effects on the inner ear. Arch Otolaryngol 88:64–69
Goldie P, Hellstrom S (1986) Middle ear effusion induced by a stream of air in the external auditory canal. A temperature-related phenomenon. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 102:248–256
Goldie P, Hellström S, Forsgren S (1989) Neuropeptides in intact and denervated tympanic membranes. An immunohistofluorescence study in the rat. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 246:183–189
H»kansson CH, Albertsson M, Palmegren M (1989) The effect of 10 and 20 Gy single dose irradiation on the esophageal mucosa of the rabbit. An electron microscopic study. Scanning Microsc 3:1169–1176
Hellström S, Salén B, Stenfors L-E (1982) Anatomy of the rat middle ear. A study under the dissection microscope. Acta Anat 112:346–352
Kelemen G (1963) Radiation and ear; experimental studies. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 184:1–48
Leach W (1965) Irradiation of the ear. J Laryngol Otol 79: 870–880
Moretti J (1976) Sensoneural hearing loss following radiotherapy to the nasopharynx. Laryngoscope 86:598–603
O'Neill J, Katz A, Skolnik E (1979) Otologic complication of radiation therapy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 87:359–363
Potten CS (1985) Radiation and skin. Taylor and Francis, London, p 154
Schuknecht H, Karmody C (1966) Radionecrosis of the temporal bone. Laryngoscope 76:1416–1428
Thibadoux G, Pereira W, Hodges J (1980) Effects of cranial radiation on hearing in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. J Pediatr 96:403–406
Winther F (1969) X-ray irradiation of the inner ear of the guinea pig. Early degenerative changes in the vestibular sensory epithelia. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 68:514–525
Winther F (1970) X-ray irradiation of the inner ear of the guinea pig. An electron microscopic study of the degenerating outer hair cells of the organ of Corti. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 69:61–76
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Correspondence to: K. Magnuson
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Magnuson, K., Franzén, L., Henriksson, R. et al. Structural changes in the middle ear tissues of the rat after fractionated irradiation. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 250, 92–96 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179305
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179305