What is acquired cholesteatoma?

Acquired cholesteatoma is a common complication of unsafe/atticoantral chronic otitis media. Literally, it means the presence of “skin in the wrong place.” The cholesteatomatous sac is lined by stratified squamous epithelium constituting the matrix, which secretes the acellular keratin debris within [1].

Who coined the term cholesteatoma?

Results: In 1683, Duverney first described a temporal bone tumor probably corresponding to a cholesteatoma. Until 1838, when Müller coined the term cholesteatoma, nothing new about this condition appeared in medical publications. After 1838, three main theories about the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma were published.

How is a cholesteatoma formed?

A cholesteatoma is an abnormal, noncancerous skin growth that can develop in the middle section of your ear, behind the eardrum. It may be a birth defect, but it’s most commonly caused by repeated middle ear infections. A cholesteatoma often develops as a cyst, or sac, that sheds layers of old skin.

What are the risk factors of cholesteatoma?

Factors that increase your chance of a cholesteatoma include:

  • Chronic ear infections.
  • A poorly functioning eustachian tube.
  • A family history of chronic middle ear disease or cholesteatoma.
  • Down syndrome.
  • Turner syndrome.
  • Cleft palate.
  • Abnormalities of the bones of the skull and face.

Is cholesteatoma genetic?

A study of adults found that acquired cholesteatoma was 1.4 times more common in men than in women. As cholesteatomas sometimes run in families, experts suspect a possible inherited genetic link . Continue reading to learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of a cholesteatoma.

What is one of the most common symptoms of a cholesteatoma?

A cholesteatoma usually only affects 1 ear. The 2 most common symptoms are: a persistent or recurring watery, often smelly, discharge from the ear, which can come and go or may be continuous. a gradual loss of hearing in the affected ear.

When was cholesteatoma discovered?

The first specification of a cholesteatoma was made by French anatomist Duverney in 1683, which describes a lesion in the temporal bone.

Who is at risk for cholesteatoma?

What are the risk factors? Identified risk factors for cholesteatoma include: Male sex — studies consistently identify a preponderance of male cases, with an estimated male:female ratio of 3:2. Middle ear disease — cholesteatoma is usually preceded by a history of middle ear disease, such as otitis media.

How rare is a cholesteatoma?

Cholesteatomas aren’t cancerous. But if you don’t treat them, they can cause problems, including hearing loss. Cholesteatomas aren’t common — only 9 out of every 100,000 adults in the U.S. get them.

What type of hearing loss is cholesteatoma?

Typically, cholesteatomata patients suffer from conductive hearing loss, i.e., a hearing disorder that only affects the outer ear. If the cholesteatoma is so far advanced that the inner ear is already affected, a so-called sensorineural hearing loss is present.

What is the best management of cholesteatoma?

Although surgery is rarely urgent, once a cholesteatoma is found, surgical treatment is the only choice. Surgery usually involves a mastoidectomy to remove the disease from the bone, and tympanoplasty to repair the eardrum.