中耳炎是耳鼻喉科常見的疾病,定義上不論原因或病理機轉,只要中耳的發炎即為中耳炎;分類上可大分為急性與慢性中耳炎兩大類,而慢性中耳炎可以再細分為慢性化膿性中耳炎及慢性非化膿性中耳炎,前者依致病機轉與處理方式不同又分為咽鼓管鼓室型(tubotympanic)與上鼓室乳突竇型(atticoantral),而上鼓室乳竇型尤指膽脂瘤的案例;後者主要是積液性中耳炎。
Otitis media is a common disease in ENT field. The definition of otitis media is simply the inflammation in middle ear, with no regard to cause or pathogenesis. Otitis media can be classified into two categories, acute and chronic. Chronic otitis media can be classified into suppurative and non-suppurative types; the former can further be classified into tubotympanic and atticoantral types in view of pathogenesis and differences in management, especially the existence of cholesteatoma in atticoantral group. Chronic non-suppurative otitis media is chiefly representative for otitis media with effusion.,