A study of the complications of grommet insertion for secretory otitis media in the presence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Accepted treatment of secretory otitis media, in the presence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy, includes the insertion of a grommet. This study analyses the incidence of otorrhoea following this treatment as compared to a control group. Results show that persistent otorrhoea occurred frequently (68%) in the study group and was refractory to antibiotic therapy. Alternative methods of management of the secretory otitis, such as a hearing aid, should be considered to avoid the complications of grommet insertion in this group of patients.