Treatment of cholesteatoma in children

Abstract

We studied retrospectively 28 cases of cholesteatoma in children whose ages were 3 to 13 years old. All had undergone surgery between 1989 and 1995. The intact canal wall technique was the predominant method used in the initial operation, with long term goals of an anatomically normal and infection-free ear. Cholesteatoma was found postoperatively in 15 cases and was considered to be residual in 6 cases and recurrent in 9. The residual cholesteatoma was relatively uncommon and usually removable in an exploratory second operation. Our findings showed that the intact canal wall technique was the best initial operation if two-stage surgery was planned. Avoidance of a retraction pocket, which tends to progress to a recurrent cholesteatoma, is important to successful treatment.