Treatment of secretory otitis and pneumatization

In 33 children, median age 4 years, with bilateral secretory otitis, adenoidectomy was performed, a grommet was inserted in the right ear, and paracentesis was done on the left side. Seven years postoperatively x-rays were taken of the children's mastoid cell systems and these were measured by planimetry. A significantly larger cell system was found on the side with grommets, which is considered to support the environmental theory of pneumatization.