Endoscopic management of acquired cholesteatoma

Objective: This study aimed to describe and evaluate endoscopic technique for treatment of acquired cholesteatoma. Study Design: This study was a case series. Settings: The study was performed in a private otolaryngology practice. Patients: Thirty-eight adult patients with acquired cholesteatoma and no previous ear surgery composed the patient population. Intervention: Thirty-six patients underwent transcanal endoscopic tympanotomy and extended atticotomy with removal of the cholesteatoma sac; the attic defect was reconstructed in 25 patients and was packed open in II patients. Two patients underwent traditional postauricular procedures. Main Outcome Measure: The main outcome measure was disease-fret ears as evident on: ii clinical examination at 1 year follow-up for 30 patients and at 2 years for 13 patients; and 2) surgical exploration ill 6 patients at 2 years. Results: There were no significant complications associated with the 36 endoscopic procedures: 29 of 30 patients were disease free at 1 year. 10 of 13 were disease fret on clinical examination at 2 years. and it of 6 were disease free on surgical exploration at 2 years. Conclusions: Early results indicate that endoscopic removal of cholesteatoma offers a safe and effective transcanal alternative to postauricular procedures.