title: Laser-assisted tympanoplasty for preservation of the ossicular chain in cholesteatoma.
abstract: We report the use of potassium titanyl phosphate laser-assisted tympanoplasty in amputations of the malleus and incus in 2 patients with cholesteatoma medial to those ossicles that had not destroyed the ossicular chain continuity. In both cases, the laser successfully removed portions of the ossicles to allow removal of the cholesteatoma; importantly, the laser preserved certain ossicular ligaments, thus keeping the ossicular chain continuous. Postoperatively, both patients showed satisfactory hearing. Although the prevalence of cholesteatoma medial to the ossicles with maintained ossicular continuity is limited, the laser-assisted procedure described here is useful for maintaining hearing ability in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomiya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008307:Malleus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*