Patulous eustachian tube: a radiological perspective.

The diagnosis of a patulous Eustachian tube relies mainly upon the history, examination and a clinical awareness of the condition. More recently, objective tests such as tympanometry and sonotubometry have been shown to be useful in confirming the diagnosis. This paper describes how computed tomographic imaging may also be useful in aiding the diagnosis. Supporting this, clinical cases of patulous tubes are demonstrated radiologically associated with congenital hemifacial microsomia and following radiotherapy for a nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The role of computed tomographic imaging in the diagnosis, research and monitoring of treatment for his condition is discussed.