Special Senses System

Ear - Proteinaceous Fluid

Narrative
Comment:
Proteinaceous fluid may accumulate in the inner, middle, or external ear canals as the result of mild to moderate vascular damage. Proteinaceous fluid in the ear canals is characterized by eosinophilic, homogeneous material with few to no inflammatory cells (Figure 1).
Recommendations:
Proteinaceous fluid should be diagnosed and assigned a severity grade. An appropriate site modifier (e.g., middle ear or external ear) should be used in the diagnosis to indicate the location of the fluid. If the fluid is the result of an inflammatory process (i.e., there is other evidence of inflammation in the surrounding tissues), inflammation should be diagnosed and the proteinaceous fluid described in the pathology narrative.
References:

Maeda K, Hirano T, Ichimiya I, Kurono Y, Suzuki M, Mogi G. 2004. Cytokine expression in experimental chronic otitis media with effusion in mice. Laryngoscope 114:1967-1972.

Full Text: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1097/01.mlg.0000147930.29261.51/full

National Toxicology Program. 1997. NTP TR-459. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of t-Butylhydroquinone (CAS No. 1948-33-0) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/6062

Piltcher OB, Swarts JD, Magnuson K, Alper CM, Doyle WJ, Hebda PA. 2002. A rat model of otitis media with effusion caused by Eustachian tube obstruction with and without Streptococcus pneumoniae infection: Methods and disease course. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 126:490-498.

Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12075222

Yoshitomi K, Brown. 1990. HR. Ear and pinna. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat: Reference and Atlas (Boorman GA, Eustis SL, Elwell MR, Montgomery CA, MacKenzie WF, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 227-238.

Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/9002563
  • Image of proteinaceous fluid in the ear from a male F344/N rat in a chronic study

    Ear, Middle ear - Proteinaceous fluid in a male Fischer 344/N rat from a chronic study. There is acellular, eosinophilic, proteinaceous fluid in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear.

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Ear, Middle ear - Proteinaceous fluid in a male Fischer 344/N rat from a chronic study. There is acellular, eosinophilic, proteinaceous fluid in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear.
Ear, Middle ear - Proteinaceous fluid in a male Fischer 344/N rat from a chronic study. There is acellular, eosinophilic, proteinaceous fluid in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear.

Author

Margarita M. Gruebbel, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Reviewers

Ruth E. Hurley, DVM, PHD, DACVP
Senior Veterinary Pathologist
Huntingdon Life Sciences
North Brunswick, NJ

Robert R. Maronpot, DVM, MS, MPH, DACVP, DABT, FIATP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC