Correlation Between the Degree of Middle Ear Pressure and the Eustachian Tube Dimensions : Radiological Study

January 7, 2026 updated by: khloud youssef sayed abdallah, Assiut University

The eustachian tube (ET) as it is known has important tasks on middle ear function and physiology. Middle ear ventilation, drainage, and protection of the middle ear to pathogens are major functions of the eustachian tube. Earlier studies showed that the eustachian tubes were shorter and were more horizontally located in children than in adults. This condition might increase otitis media in children (1).

The angles relative to the plane of the eustachian tube have previously been measured in a lot of work. These measurements were obtained in mostly cadaver studies. In various studies with the temporal bone computed tomography (CT), the eustachian tube placement was assessed according to the relationship to other structures (2).

Reid horizontal plane was found in 1962 by the world federation of radiology, bilateral inferior orbital wall and superior walls of the bilateral external ear canal. This plane is considered to be the position at which the head in a neutral anatomical position. Reid plane of eustachian tube angle is defined as the angle between tympanic pharyngeal orifice and Reid plane. Tubotympanic angle is an angle more recently associated with COM and cholesteatoma.This angle is defined as the angle of the longitudinal axis of the eustachian tube along the tympanic orifice and the longitudinal axis of the center the bony external ear canal of the bone in the axial plane(3).

There was a positive correlation between the degree of the mastoid pneumatization and the eustachian tube length (4). The decrease in the angle with the horizontal plane of Reid in the Eustachian tube in adults may play a significant role in the etiology of cholesteatoma(1).

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children aged 7-18 years attending the ENT clinic at Assiut University Children's Hospital, with no prior ear surgery or chronic ear disease

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • healthy tympanic membrane age more than 7 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • i. Childern before 7 years. ii. Unhealthy tympanic membrane. iii. Patients with any kind of otitis media. iv. Patients with upper respiratory tract infection. v. Previous radiotherapy. vi. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux. vii. Previous temporal bone trauma.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Anatomical and functional parameters of the Eustachian tube
Time Frame: Single assessment at the time of imaging or clinical evaluation
Single assessment at the time of imaging or clinical evaluation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Assiut University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 7, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • khloud youssef sayed abdallah

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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