Congenital Cholesteatoma of the Middle Ear and Mastoid: A Third Report

Abstract

Six cases of congenital cholesteatoma of middle ear and mastoid are presented as a third report, thereby increasing the number of such cases reported by the author and his associates to 23. Our first case of congenital cholesteatoma of the petrous pyramid, Cawthorne type, is reported. Most importantly, five cases of recurrent cholesteatoma thought to be due to incomplete primary excision (residual cholesteatoma) are described. One postoperative retraction pocket is described as potential secondary cholesteatoma which required corrective revision surgery. In spite of relatively high incidence of revision surgery for postoperative cholesteatoma, the author reaffirms his belief in using "closed technique" to preserve near-normal external auditory canal anatomy and an intact tympanic cavity regardless of the primary fate of the ossicular chain.