Can cochlear function be preserved after a modified translabyrinthine approach to eradicate a huge cholesteatoma extending to the petrous apex?
The objective of the present study was to show that the modified translabyrinthine approach with partial ablation of the labyrinths is useful for preserving hearing in our experience involving three clinical cases with huge cholesteatomas extending to the petrous apex. A retrospective analysis of patient medical records was done in a tertiary referral medical center. All three patients studied had huge cholesteatomas extending to the petrous apex and were treated surgically with a modified translabyrinthine approach between October 2005 and December 2006. The modified translabyrinthine approach was used in all patients. Long-term hearing results were obtained. The cholesteatoma sac was removed completely in all patients. Pure tone audiometry demonstrated that the hearing had been saved in two patients. We concluded that the modified translabyrinthine approach is useful for preserving hearing postoperatively when a huge cholesteatoma exists involving the petrous region or a vestibular schwannoma in the internal auditory canal or cerebellopontine angle.
Hong
Sung Ju
SJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Kyo-Dong, Chuncheon, Kangwon, South Korea.
Lee
Jun Ho
JH
Jung
Sang Ho
SH
Park
Chan Hum
CH
Hong
Seok Min
SM
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000601:surgery*