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Cholesteatoma

Alicia Leandra Olowu, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Hsin Li, DO, MPH and Chenhan Mike Tsai, D.O Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

Cholesteatoma is a collection of epithelial cells growing in an inappropriate area of the ear external to the dural lining. 

DESCRIPTION

  • Cholesteatoma was originally named based on its fatty appe...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Patients with cholesteatoma present with a wide spectrum of symptomatology, asymptomatic to multiple chronic symptoms. Symptoms are usually slowly progressive. The most common symptom...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Initial workup includes treatment of existing ear abnormalities per clinical standards. The patient should be trialed on topical antibiotics with or without the addition of o...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow-up recommendations vary based on the surgical procedure used. If a cholesteatoma is not completely excised and externalization is mandated, frequent otolar...

REFERENCES

1
Nevoux  J, Lenoir  M, Roger  G, et al. Childhood cholesteatoma. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis.  2010;127(4):143–150. [View Abstract on OvidMedline] ...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

Tamminen P, Järnstedt J, Lehtinen A, et al. Ultra-low-dose CBCT scan: rational map for ear surgery. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023;280(3)1161–116...

CODES

ICD10

  • H71.9 Unspecified cholesteatoma

  • H71.91 Unspecified cholesteatoma, right ear

  • H71.93 Unspecified cholesteatoma, bilateral

  • H71.90 Unspecified cholesteatoma

  • H71.92 Unspecified cholesteatoma

  • H71.32 D...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Cholesteatoma presents as asymptomatic to multiple chronic symptoms. Symptoms are usually slowly progressive. The most common symptom is recurrent painless otorrhea.

  • Middle ear disease ...

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