14 Causes of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
14. Tumors
Tumors and other types of growth can grow in and around the ears. As the tumors get larger, they put pressure on the eustachian tubes and can eventually block them and prevents them from working as they should.
Depending on the type of tumor or growth, they may go away eventually. Most will require surgical removal. The surgery may cause some swelling around the ears that may continue to cause eustachian dysfunction. Once the swelling goes down, the eustachian tubes should be able to open up and function correctly. Some tumors can damage the eustachian tubes so badly that they can’t be repaired.
Instead, doctors may need to replace them with tubes that can help drain the fluid or mucus from the ears. Tubes can also be placed in the ears to help keep the eustachian tubes open when there is pressure or swelling around them. Tubes are often added to children’s ears even when there are no tumors or growths present.
