Vestibulocochlear evaluation in patients with nasal polyposis

Nasal polyps, which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses, is actually a common pathological finding of many diseases rather than a single disease. It can present in a spectrum ranging from a single, limited lesion to widespread mucosal changes that are severe enough to cause facial deformity. Nasal polyposis, in which various etiological factors such as allergy, asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and recurrent sinusitis play a role, can clinically occur in different forms and prevalence. The inner ear is an organ sensitive to autoimmune attacks, and sensorineural hearing loss may occur as a complication of non-organ-specific autoimmune diseases. In recent years, many studies have evaluated hearing and balance functions in many diseases with inflammatory and immunological pathogenesis. However, there is no study in the literature yet about the relationship between nasal polyposis and the vestibulocochlear system. Based on the studies conducted, this study was planned to investigate the effect of nasal polyposis on middle and inner ear hearing functions and the vestibular system. The purpose of our study; The aim was to evaluate the effect of nasal polyposis on the vestibulocochlear system by comparing pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, DPOAE, OAE values and VEMP values in both ears between patients with nasal polyposis and the control group. The study was conducted with 40 nasal polyposis patients and 40 control group people. The study was conducted with a total of 80 people, 35 female (43.75%) and 45 male (56.25%). There were 25 male and 15 female patients with nasal polyposis. The control group consisted of 20 men and 20 women. The average age of the control group was 40.6±14.04 (minimum 18, maximum 70), and the average age of the study group was 43.2±14.01 (minimum 20, maximum 65). In our study, pure tone audiometry values, tympanometry, otoacoustic emission SNR values, and VEMP values of patients with nasal polyposis and the control group; were evaluated and compared separately. As a result, studies on the effects of vestibulocochlear functions in nasal polyposis patients and the disease characteristics that may be related to these possible effects should be continued.