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The nasopharyngeal radium applicator is used in the treatment of conduction deafness resulting from the overgrowth of lymphoid tissue about the pharyngeal orifices of the eustachian tubes, in a manner similar to that described by Crowe and associates.
The applicator consists of a standard 50 mg. radium capsule attached to a pliable copper wire (fig. 1). The brass capsule contains 5 standard 10 mg. radium needles. Each radium needle has a wall thickness of 0.03 mm. of platinum; the brass capsule has a wall thickness of 0.8 mm., with a platinum equivalent of 0.2 mm.; the combined wall thickness is 0.5 mm. platinum equivalent, adequate filtration to remove the caustic beta rays.
The nasopharyngeal radium applicator is inserted through the middle meatus or along the floor of the nose. The insertion is somewhat comparable to the passing of a eustachian catheter. Local anesthesia is usually used; however, in a few