Otitis media with effusion following radiotherapy in head-and-neck cancer: A narrative review
Santosh Kumar Swain, Dillip Kumar Samal
Abstract
ABSTRACT Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a known complication of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with head-and-neck cancer, primarily due to eustachian tube dysfunction. The severity of radiation-induced OME (RT-induced OME) is also influenced by the malignancies at head-and-neck areas and their stages. Tinnitus, deafness, earache, and aural fullness are the hallmarks of OME. Despite its prevalence, there is no standardized treatment approach for managing RT-induced OME. In this narrative review, we summarized and evaluated current literature on OME following RT based on searches of PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Google Scholar. Although grommet insertion is the standard treatment for OME in nonirradiated patients, its use in postradiotherapy cases remains controversial due to a higher risk of complications. Other options include observation, hearing aids, or limited myringotomy. RT-induced OME significantly impacts patient quality of life yet remains underreported. Further research and clinical guidelines are needed to standardize management in this subset of patients.