title: Surgical outcomes of early congenital cholesteatoma: minimally invasive transcanal approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce a simple and alternative surgical technique, minimally invasive transcanal myringotomy (MITM), for early stage congenital cholesteatoma in children and to evaluate the feasibility and results of MITM for management of early stage congenital cholesteatoma with respect to its effectiveness and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2008 and September 2012, a total of 36 patients with congenital cholesteatoma met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Patient medical records, including demographic characteristics, intraoperative findings, and follow-up records, were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects consisted of 23 males (64%) and 13 females (36%), and the age at operation ranged from 12 months to 6 years (mean age = 3 years and 6 months). The number of congenital cholesteatoma was as follows: 26 patients at stage I and 10 patients at stage II. The follow-up duration was between 12 and 56 months, with an average of 30 months. There were no postoperative complications such as tympanic membrane perforation, dizziness, or secondary middle ear infection. Among 36 patients who had undergone the MITM approach for the treatment of congenital cholesteatoma, five (13.8%) showed recurrence and underwent a second-look operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of our data, the MITM approach is a useful surgical technique for early stage congenital cholesteatoma in children. It has many advantages, in that there is no external wound and it is a simple surgical technique that involves easy postoperative care, a short operation time and hospitalization period, avoidance of serious complications, and easy repeatability for recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Daegu Veterans Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Dongjun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye-Ryung
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu-Yup
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Congenital cholesteatoma; management; staging; tympanoplasty