[The thickness and the pathological findings of the tympanic membranes in otitis media with effusion--a pathological study of the temporal bone].

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of the grade of the inflammation of the middle ear and the pathological findings of the tympanic membranes using human serial horizontal sections from 16 temporal bones with otitis media with effusion. As controls, we used 96 normal temporal bones. The results were as follows. 1) In cases with a lot of inflammation cells in the middle ear effusion, there were seen much pathological changes in the epidermal layer and the intermediate layer. 2) In the pars flaccida and the posterior point of the malleus handle were noted remarkable changes. 3) The greater part of the cells of the middle ear effusion was neutrophils.