Table 1 Comparison of serial histological changes over time between the study groups after Eustachian tube balloon dilatation.
Immediately after | 1-week follow-up | 4-week follow-up | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Control | SRL | *p-value | Control | SRL | *p-value | Control | SRL | *p-value | |
ET luminal area (%) | 125.37 (108.10–144.60) | 122.96 (115.01–142.71) | 0.757 | 50.74 (47.93–58.25) | 130.11 (119.50–140.38) | < 0.001 | 106.83 (101.51–111.64) | 113.71 (109.57–131.06) | 0.065 |
Thickness of epithelial layers (µm) | 10.80 (7.75–11.90) | 7.90 (6.80–9.80) | 0.117 | 80.70 (72.45–94.35) | 15.90 (10.75–18.60) | < 0.001 | 27.10 (23.85–32.05) | 58.20 (48.00–62.40) | < 0.001 |
Thickness of submucosal fibrosis (µm) | 99.45 (86.90–108.15) | 115.30 (102.60–125.61) | 0.065 | 264.50 (234.55–287.80) | 72.80 (66.30–88.80) | < 0.001 | 290.05 (262.60–324.00) | 57.15 (45.20–83.60) | < 0.001 |
Inflammatory cell infiltration (degree) | 3.00 (3.00–3.00) | 3.00 (2.25–3.75) | 0.765 | 4.00 (4.00–4.75) | 3.00 (2.25–3.00) | 0.005 | 4.00 (3.25–4.00) | 2.00 (1.25–2.75) | 0.003 |
Collagen deposition (degree) | 3.00 (2.00–4.00) | 3.00 (1.75–4.00) | 0.707 | 2.00 (1.00–3.50) | 2.00 (1.00–2.25) | 0.632 | 2.50 (1.75–3.25) | 2.00 (1.00–3.25) | 0.737 |
α-SMA (degree) | 1.00 (1.00–2.00) | 2.00 (1.00–2.00) | 0.747 | 4.00 (4.00–5.00) | 2.00 (1.00–2.00) | < 0.001 | 3.00 (2.00–3.00) | 2.00 (1.00–2.00) | 0.044 |
Fibrotic area at the cartilaginous portion of the ET (%) | – | – | – | 28.40 (24.88–33.20) | 10.00 (8.15–11.78) | 0.001 | 20.50 (17.55–28.03) | 17.15 (11.03–20.35) | 0.102 |
