Report of research conference on middle ear effusions

The recommendations of this conference are the following. There is an urgent need to study various aspects of otitis media with effusion. This study should be carried out in a multidisciplinary approach with well defined goals. A workable definition and classification relative to middle ear effusions is strongly recommended before undertaking a major research effort on otitis media with effusion. Without this guideline, it is not possible to correlate results obtained by various investigators. In order to expedite a concerted research effort, it would be desirable to maintain a consortium in which rapid exchange of information and close cooperation is established between laboratories involved in investigations dealing with middle ear effusions.