Abstract
Accepted treatment of secretory otitis media, in the presence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy, includes the insertion of a grommet. This study analyses the incidence of otorrhoea following this treatment as compared to a control group. Results show that persistent otorrhoea occurred frequently (68%) in the study group and was refractory to antibiotic therapy. Alternative methods of management of the secretory otitis, such as a hearing aid, should be considered to avoid the complications of grommet insertion in this group of patients.