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.