Tympanosclerosis of the ear drum in secretory otitis media.

Tympanosclerosis of the ear drum in children with SOM differs from normal ear drums in children with SOM. In tympanosclerosis the numbers of fibroblasts, fibrocytes and macrophages are increased in lamina propria and in the submucosa. The collagen microfibrils and procollagen filaments have increased in numbers with a partly disorganized pattern. Fibrolysis of microfibrils is conspicuous and hyaline degeneration appears in areas. Calcareous deposits are found scattered to a limited extent in lamina propria and in the submucosa. Profound calcification could only be found in children with tympanosclerosis coexisting with chronic perforation of the ear drum.