Chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma

 

Chronic otitis media results from a perforation in the eardrum and an active bacterial infection within the middle ear space that has lasted for several weeks or more. There may be enough pus present that it drains to the outside of the ear (otorrhea). Hearing impairment often accompanies this disease. Cholesteatoma involves 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 expansive properties. They may result in the destruction of bones in the middle ear, which requires surgery. They may, as well, spread through the base of the skull into the brain. Tympanoplasty is the surgical operation performed for the reconstruction of the eardrum and/or the small bones of the middle ear after removal of granulation and/or cholesteatoma. Common graft sites include the temporalis fascia. We perform more than 20 operations in patients with chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma each year. Canal wall down tympanoplasty with reconstruction of soft posterior meatal wall is usually our method for treating cholesteatoma.