The purpose of this paper is to show that satisfactory results following mastoidectomy can be obtained for the problem of chronic serous otitis. The success of the simple mastoid operation or mastoidectomy with facial recess approach and the subsequent increased aeration of the mastoidantral-attic-middle-ear complex is to be suggested when the repeated use of myringotomy tubes alone is not the answer to chronic serous otitis. It is chronic negative pressure due to eustachian tube dysfunction that leads to irreversible mastoid disease.

Seven cases of mastoidectomy for chronic serous otitis media are presented. All cases had adequate conservative medical and surgical treatment over a period of years for chronic serous otitis before mastoidectomy was considered. The clinical history, as well as lateral mastoid X-ray, was used in diagnosing irreversible mastoid disease.