title: Clinical characteristics of pediatric external auditory canal cholesteatoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  External auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) is caused by an invasion of squamous tissue into a localized area of periosteitis in the bony canal wall. The clinical characteristics of pediatric EACC are still unknown because of its rare occurrence. To date, only a single paper has reported that pediatric EACC has a less aggressive growth pattern compared to adult EACC. Further studies are required to understand the clinical behavior of EACC, i.e., its aggressiveness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of pediatric EACC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical records of all patients diagnosed with EACC in our department from January 1, 2012 to February 29, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the extension of bone erosion, symptoms, and clinical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients had primary pediatric EACC (age range, 5-17 years). All patients showed unilateral EACC. Otalgia and intermittent otorrhea were common symptoms. Bacterial cultures were performed for four patients with otorrhea, which was controlled by diluted vinegar irrigation with a topical antibiotic solution. The most common bone destruction sites were the inferior and posterior walls. All patients required surgical treatment. Four patients (patient nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5) were treated via a postauricular transcanal approach. Three patients (patient nos. 2, 6, and 7) required mastoidectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric EACC is not less aggressive than adult EACC. Therefore, early diagnosis and adequate treatment are necessary. Further studies are required to elucidate the clinical features of pediatric spontaneous EACC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. Electronic address: chulsavio@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Chul Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Yoon
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Yuap
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chung Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004424:Ear Canal; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Bone destruction; Clinical characteristics; External auditory canal cholesteatoma