Cholesteatoma is a destructive and expanding growth consisting of keratinizing squamous epithelium in the middle ear and/or mastoid process. Although cholesteatomas are not classified as either tumors or cancers, they can still cause significant problems because of their erosive and expansile properties resulting in the destruction of the bones of the middle ear , as well as their possible spread through the base of the skull into the brain.

Cholesteatoma Cholesteatoma is a benign growth of skin in the middle ear and/or mastoid that can lead to infection and more serious problems involving the brain and facial nerve.

Cholesteatomas often develop as cysts or pouches that shed layers of old skin, which build up inside the middle ear. Over time, the cholesteatoma can increase in size and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the middle ear leading to hearing loss that surgery can often improve. Permanent hearing loss, dizziness, and facial muscle paralysis are rare, . allow the surgeon to inspect the middle ear space and mastoid for residual cholesteatoma. .

Diseases of the Ear – Cholesteatoma. Disease/Disorder Name: Cholesteatoma ICD-9 Description: Cholesteatoma of Middle ear and Mastoid Description: Non-neoplastic keratinizing mass with stratified squamous epithelium, frequently occurring in the meninges, central nervous system, bones of the skull, and most commonly in the middle ear and mastoid region.

Cholesteatoma and Chronic Mastoiditis. The middle ear and the mastoid are directly connected to each other and are normally filled with air. Air enters the middle ear via the eustachian tube which opens into the naspharynx (deep portion of the nasal chamber).

Introduction: To reduce incidence of residual cholesteatoma following ear surgery; and to reduce the need for second look “open” mastoidectomy using endoscopic mastoidotomy.

Cholesteatoma is usually an ear infection with discharge, . Cholesteatoma is a skin-lined cyst that begins at the margin of the eardrum and invades the middle ear and mastoid (arrow). This photograph shows a typical cholesteatoma that has eaten into the bone, wrapped around the incus (hearing bone), and collected layers of dead skin.

. the tumor may have eroded through the bony wall which separates the middle ear from the mastoid. This may require a more radical . many ear surgeons will delay rebuilding the bones of hearing for a year after an intact canal wall operation for cholesteatoma. The ear drum is opened at the second operation and the bones of hearing are . The Ear Surgery Information Center offers and maintains this web site to provide information of a general nature about the conditions requiring .

Cholesteatoma is a unique disease of your ear in which a skin cyst grows into the middle ear and mastoid. The cyst is not cancerous but can erode tissue and cause destruction of your ear.