Pharyngothympanic tube dysfunction. The ETDQ-7 as a tool for clinical diagnosis

Abstract

At present, great variety of methods are described to evaluate the dysfunction of the pharyngotympanic duct (DCFT), the vast majority of them require highly complex instruments and highly trained personnel. Despite this, none of these methods has been validated as the gold standard for the diagnosis of this pathology. In this context, a complementary tool for the diagnosis of the DCFT is presented. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 items (ETDQ-7), a self-administered questionnaire that in­cludes 7 questions based on a Likert scale, was created to evaluate the symptomatology associated with the dysfunction of the duct. It is scored ranging from the mildest symp­tomatology (1 point) to the most severe (7 points), according to the perceived symp­toms, with a maximum score of 49 points, corresponding to a severe dysfunction. The present review aims to search, organize, classify and describe the available information in scientific indexed journals about the ETDQ-7 as a tool for complementary diagnosis of the DCFT. Eleven scientific articles were included, referred to the use of ETDQ-7 in different countries, describing it as a valid tool which allows to discriminate the presence of a DCFT.