Causes Of Misdiagnosis Of Secretory Otitis Media

Objective To explore the associated factors misdiagnosis for cases with secretory otitis media(SOM) and countermeasures to prevent it from occuring. Methods 362case(382ear) with SOM,treated more than one time in hospitalization or in outpatient service during the years of 1999～2003,were carefully and systematically analyzed retrospectively. Results Misdiagnosis was seen among 33 patient (38ear) in the group of cases.There were four causes for misdiagnosis in SOM. ①equivocal symptom; ②carelessness in history-taking; ③carelessness in examining the tympanic membrane; ④the lack of a comprehensive study for the symptoms and physicai signs. Conclusions A comprehensive analysis should be made on the basis of the age, the past history and pure tone audiogram of the patients.Acoustic immitance have a 99% positive rate in diagnosis of SOM and should be used as a routine measurement for all SOM suspects.