Laser therapy for refractory myringitis in children.

OBJECTIVE

We present the application and initial results of a CO(2) laser technique for the treatment of medically refractory chronic granular myringitis (CGM).

STUDY DESIGN AND

SETTING

Retrospective case series of 15 treated ears in 13 consecutive patients between the ages of 6 and 14 years (median age, 9.0 years) cared for in a tertiary care specialty hospital.

RESULTS

Eleven of 15 treated ears had total resolution of CGM and associated symptoms; median follow-up time was 10 months. Three ears were improved, and 1 ear remained unchanged. Three of 5 preoperative tympanic membrane perforations healed after laser treatment; 1 patient developed a postoperative, dry perforation. Hearing was not impaired in any patient tested.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary results suggest that CGM, when refractory to medical treatment, can often be treated effectively by a single laser treatment.