title: Facial paralysis associated with cholesteatoma: a review of 13 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Report the clinical presentation and outcome of the cases of 13 patients with facial paralysis and acquired middle ear and mastoid cholesteatoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with acquired cholesteatoma of the middle ear presenting with facial paralysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical treatment of the cholesteatoma and decompression of the facial nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  The type and the timing of surgery, the intraoperative findings, and the postoperative facial nerve results were analyzed and related to the preoperative facial nerve function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients treated less than 7 days after the onset of the paralysis showed a normal facial function at long-term follow-up; patients who were operated on 7 days or more after the onset of paralysis showed a variable outcome. Statistical analysis showed a bigger number of House-Brackmann grade I in patients operated on within the first week of paralysis (p = 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of facial paralysis is related to the time of intervention. Early diagnosis and treatment of cholesteatoma represent, however, the mainstay of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology G. Lugli, Otology and Neurotology Microsurgery, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Italy. nicola.quaranta@orl.uniba.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quaranta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence