Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patulous Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction can impair quality of life (QOL) due to autophony, pressure sensation, and an altered impression of sound. In cases of nonspecific complaints the diagnosis of patulous ET can be difficult, and its distinction from chronic obstructive ET dysfunction is particularly challenging. Since there is currently a lack of standardized diagnostic and therapeutic options, a structured diagnostic workup is essential for accurate diagnosis of this condition. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Patient Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) was established by McCoul et al. in 2012 for investigating chronic obstructive ET dysfunction. The Patulous Eustachian Tube Handicap Inventory-10 (PHI-10) was published by Kobayashi et al. in 2017 as an instrument to evaluate patulous ET. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The PHI-10 questionnaire was translated into German and validated in a total of 83 patients (41 healthy subjects, 13 patients with tinnitus, 11 patients with patulous ET, and 18 patients with chronic obstructive ET dysfunction). In addition, the PHI-10 (German) was compared to ETDQ‑7. RESULTS: The results of the English version of the PHI-10 questionnaire could be confirmed using the German version. The German version of the PHI-10 and the results of the PHI-10 and ETDQ‑7 for each group of patients are presented. The ETDQ‑7 leads to false-positive results in patients with patulous ET and the PHI-10 generates false-positive results in patients with chronic obstructive ET dysfunction. Both questionnaires result in false-positive results in patients with tinnitus. CONCLUSION: The PHI-10 and ETDQ‑7 (German) can be recommended as an additional tool for preoperative assessment of ET dysfunction. However, they insufficiently discriminate between patulous and obstructive ET dysfunction and are not suitable for patients with tinnitus. The strength of the two questionnaires lies in their suitability for use in monitoring therapeutic success during follow-up.