Role of Otoacoustic Emission in Early Detection of Cisplatin Induced Ototoxicity

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent effective against head and neck carcinoma but unfortunately it is cochleotoxic. This study has been designed to investigate the efficacy of OAE in identifying early effects of cisplatin on the cochlea and the importance of protocol for audiological monitoring of cisplatin induced ototoxicity. This is a prospective observational study conducted from October 2012 to September 2014 on 70 patients, receiving Cisplatin for various malignant conditions. Audiological criteria for ototoxicity was considered as a difference of 10 d B or more in pure tone thresholds of two or more adjacent frequencies in conventional audiometry and in DPOAE-Signal noise ratio less than 6 dB or DPOAE amplitude less than 20 dBSPL (irrespective of SNR > 6 dB). According to PTA, 60.7% patients showed ototoxicity after completion of chemotherapy. In DPOAE, according to SNR and amplitude criteria more than 60% patients showed ototoxicity after first cycle of cisplatin at high frequencies (4–8 kHz). DPOAEs is a sensitive tool for early detection of ototoxicity and protocol is necessary for monitoring ototoxicity in patients receiving cisplatin to improve the quality of life.