What does this research mean for the field?

The nine-step and inflation tests provide moderate diagnostic accuracy and serve as complementary tools for diagnosing patulous Eustachian tube, particularly in patients with perforated tympanic membranes, using optimal cutoff values of 277.5 daPa for opening pressure and 31 daPa for closing pressure. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the diagnostic utility and accuracy of the nine-step test and an inflation test in identifying patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction.

September 8, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Diagnosing patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction using the nine-step and inflation tests

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Authors

JYJi Min YunYonsei University TCTae Uk CheonUlsan College SBSeong Hoon BaeYonsei University

Discussion

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Implication

Prospective comparative study demonstrates diagnostic accuracy of nine-step and inflation tests for patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction, indicating their utility in perforated eardrums.

Key Points

To evaluate the diagnostic utility and accuracy of the nine-step test and an inflation test in identifying patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Prospectively evaluated 27 ears from 18 patients with confirmed patulous Eustachian tube (PET) post-ventilation tube insertion and 18 control ears from 18 participants with traumatic or iatrogenic tympanic membrane perforations.
Administered the nine-step test on intact tympanic membranes and the inflation phase test on membranes containing a ventilation tube or perforation.
Measured resting middle ear pressure, maximal peak pressure difference (ETTmd), opening pressure (OP), and closing pressure (CP), determining optimal cutoffs via receiver operating characteristic analysis.
Ears in the PET group demonstrated significantly lower ETTmd, OP, and CP compared to control ears, whereas resting middle ear pressure showed no significant difference between groups.
The inflation test exhibited moderate diagnostic accuracy, achieving an area under the curve of 0.864 for OP and 0.826 for CP.
Optimal diagnostic cutoff values for confirming PET were established at 277.5 daPa for OP and 31 daPa for CP.

Cite This Study

Yun et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7b758e84d0ff5b46ad4 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69376-8

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Implication

Prospective comparative study demonstrates diagnostic accuracy of nine-step and inflation tests for patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction, indicating their utility in perforated eardrums.

Diagnosing patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction using the nine-step and inflation tests

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Diagnosing patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction using the nine-step and inflation tests

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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