What is the definition of cholesteatoma?

What is the definition of cholesteatoma?

Cholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst that is located in the middle ear and mastoid bone in the skull.

What causes cholesteatoma?

A cholesteatoma usually occurs because of poor eustachian tube function in combination with infection in the middle ear. When the eustachian tube is not working correctly, pressure within the middle ear can pull part of the eardrum the wrong way, creating a sac or cyst that fills with old skin cells .

What is cholesteatoma made of?

A cholesteatoma consists of squamous epithelium that is trapped within the middle ear space; it can erode and destroy vital structures within the temporal bone. Epitympanic (attic) cholesteatoma.

Is cholesteatoma a diagnosis?

Summary. Cholesteatoma is a serious but treatable ear condition that can only be diagnosed by medical examination. Persisting earache, ear drainage, ear pressure, hearing loss, dizziness, or facial muscle weakness signals the need for evaluation by an otolaryngologist.

Is cholesteatoma a fungus?

Conclusion: Fungal colonisation in middle-ear cleft cholesteatoma probably plays a significant role in disease progression. Moreover, saprophytic fungal colonisation in cholesteatoma keratin may be responsible for the fetor commonly associated with the ear discharge.

How is cholesteatoma treated?

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.

Can cholesteatoma be seen on MRI?

MRI plays an important role in the preoperative and postoperative diagnosis of cholesteatomas by characterizing the soft tissue abnormality identified on HRCT. MR has potential to differentiate cholesteatoma from granulation tissue and inflammatory tissue.

What is the effect of cholesteatoma?

Cholesteatoma can erode bone, including the three bones of hearing, which may cause infection to spread to the inner ear or brain. These infections can lead to meningitis, brain abscess, facial paralysis, dizziness (vertigo), and even death.