What is Cholesteatoma?
Cholesteatoma is a benign growth caused by trapped skin cells and protein behind the eardrum. When skin from the ear canal penetrates the eardrum, the keratin it produces can accumulate in the middle ear, leading to cholesteatoma. If untreated, it can erode the ossicles, cause hearing loss, and potentially damage the inner ear, leading to more severe complications like facial paralysis or meningitis.
What are the Symptoms?
While some patients may have mild or no symptoms, the most common sign of cholesteatoma is frequent ear infections, often accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge. Hearing loss is also frequently present.
How is it Diagnosed?
Cholesteatoma is diagnosed through a microscopic ear examination during an office visit. A hearing test (audiogram) assesses hearing damage, and a CT scan of the temporal bone checks the extent of cholesteatoma spread.
Treatment and Surgery
Treatment for cholesteatoma focuses on controlling infection and preventing bone damage, with hearing restoration as a secondary goal. Small cases may be cleaned in the office, while advanced cases usually need surgery, including mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty, and ossicular reconstruction. Close follow-up is crucial as cholesteatomas can recur, sometimes requiring additional surgery.
