Contemporary assessment and management of congenital cholesteatoma.
OBJECTIVE
Only 2-4% of cholesteatomas presenting to pediatric otologists are congenital in origin. Disease severity can range from intratympanic pearls to middle ear and mastoid obliteration. Recently, highlighted variations of this rare disorder warrant a systematic approach to disease assessment and surgical decision making. This review provides a comprehensive method to diagnose and manage congenital cholesteatoma based on current literature.


RESULTS
The holding theory of the origin of congenital cholesteatomas is that they arise from retained epithelial cell rest. Primary development can vary among sites within the middle ear and mastoid. 'Open' and 'closed' varieties have been proposed. However, disease severity depends on location, patient age, ossicular integrity, and number of anatomic sites involved. These variables have inspired the development of staging systems whereby appropriate surgical approaches can be designed. Computed tomography (CT) scans are necessary and continue to be the best radiographic tool for surgical planning. Over 30% of congenital cholesteatomas can be extirpated through a transcanal approach. Involvement of the posterior quadrant, over three anatomic subsites, or the mastoid cavity obligates standard canal wall-up techniques. Canal wall-down procedures are rarely required.


CONCLUSIONS
Congenital cholesteatomas frequently extend beyond the typically described anterosuperior location of the middle ear. Ossicular destruction, mastoid infiltration, and tympanic membrane rupture are encountered more frequently than previously thought. Advanced disease predominately occurs in older children and requires sophisticated assessment and surgical planning beyond removing a simple keratin cyst.
Richter
Gresham T
GT
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA. gtrichter@uams.edu
Lee
Kenneth H
KH
D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000145:classification / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome