ObjectivesThe cause of Eustachian tube dysfunction often remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the feasibility and possible diagnostic use of optical coherence tomography in the Eustachian tube ex vivo.MethodsTwo female blackface sheep cadaver heads were examined bilaterally. Three conditions of the Eustachian tube were investigated: closed (resting position), actively opened and stented. The findings were compared (and correlated) with segmented histological cross-sections.ResultsIntraluminal placement of the Eustachian tube with the optical coherence tomography catheter was performed without difficulty. Regarding the limited infiltration depth of optical coherence tomography, tissues can be differentiated. The localisation of the stent was accurate as was the lumen.ConclusionThe application of optical coherence tomography in the Eustachian tube under these experimental conditions is considered to be a feasible, rapid and non-invasive diagnostic method, with possible diagnostic value for determining the luminal shape and superficial lining tissue of the Eustachian tube.
A 52-year-old man presented with clinical and echocardiographic signs of cardiac tamponade. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a large right atrial mass that obstructed the superior vena cava flow. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography demonstrated extracardiac tumour invasion of the free atrial wall extending to the right pulmonary hilus. Intracardiac echocardiography-guided biopsy of the tumour revealed the tissue diagnosis-granulocytic sarcoma of the heart. The patient was effectively treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He has remained free of the disease for 12 months after treatment.
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