A 5-year observational study of the outcome in pediatric cholesteatoma surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The present report is a 5-year observational study after pediatric cholesteatoma surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis was made on pediatric cholesteatoma cases in a county hospital.


METHODS
Between 1988 and 2001, 52 primary cholesteatoma operations were performed on 50 children.


RESULTS
Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the residual and recurrent cholesteatoma rate at 5 years was 20.6 (95% confidence interval, 8.7-32.6%) and 5.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.0-12.1%), respectively. At the 5-year follow-up, 12.2% of the ears still have otorrhea. Socially adequate hearing (30-dB hearing level or better) was achieved in 53% of ears. Overall, 50% of the ears required a second operation within the first 5 years, including planned staged surgery for primary treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Currently, there is no consensus on how outcomes of cholesteatoma surgery are reported. The authors recommend that these should be long-term data (5 yr or longer), using survival analyses for recidivistic rate and cutoff analyses for postoperative otorrhea and hearing outcome.
Yung
Matthew
M
Department of Otolaryngology, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Heath Rd, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP5 4PD, UK. matthewyung@btconnect.com
Jacobsen
Nicola L
NL
Vowler
Sarah L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty