Participants:
Main outcome measures: All participants underwent temporal bone CTs while they were performing the Valsalva maneuver in the supine position. Standard axial plane CT images, along with multiplanar reconstruction and 3D Air volume rendering, were used to visualize the ET in its entirety.
Results: Three patients (2 females, one male) with a total of 6 ears were included in the study. All patients had suggestive symptoms of PET, including aural fullness, aerophony, and autophony and underwent clinical examination and audiologic tests. In all ears, the whole Eustachian tube could be visualized with Valsalva CT.
Conclusion: For the first time, we demonstrated the merit of Valsalva CT in visualization of the Eustachian tube in its entirety in patients with clinically diagnosed PET.
Keywords : Computed Tomography; Eustachian tube; Patulous Eustachian tube; Valsalva maneuver
Key points;1. Patulous Tuba Eustachii is not clearly seen on routine radiological imaging.
2. Valsalva CT is never performed to diagnose the patulous Tuba Eustachii.
3. CT is commonly used in daily practice of the ENT.
4. Valsalva maneuver can easily be done by patients during CT examination of the patients who have suspicion of patulous Tuba Eustachii.
5. Patulous Tuba Eustachii can easily be seen on Valsalva CT.