title: Spontaneous cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal: the utility of CT.
abstract: Spontaneous external auditory canal (EAC) cholesteatoma is a rare disease. The symptoms are nonspecific. It is diagnosed by clinical examination and radiological investigation. The clinical examination alone is often insufficient for accurately assessing spread of the cholesteatoma into the temporal bone, meaning cross-sectional imaging modalities are required, and specifically computed tomography. We report three cases of spontaneous cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal. All of our patients underwent surgery. In two cases, the cholesteatoma was restricted to the external auditory canal, while in one case, it was complicated by a fistula with the lateral semicircular canal. Good anatomical and functional results were obtained in all three cases, with the external auditory canal patent and a good calibre on completion.
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Hôpital Universitaire Tahar Sfar Mahdia, Djbal Dar Ouaja, Mahdia, Tunisia. saidajerbi@topnet.tn
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Jerbi Omezzine
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dakkem
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ben Hmida
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Saidi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ben Rhouma
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Driss
authors: H A
authors: HA
authors: Hamza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed