Congenital cholesteatoma causing meningitis and death.

A case of fatal congenital cholesteatoma in a 71-year-old patient is reported. The presenting symptom was facial paralysis, which was treated symptomatically by a general practitioner and ophthalmologists. Ear discharge, convulsion and coma appeared as final events. It is emphasized that all cases of idiopathic facial paralysis should be referred to the otologist for an evaluation in depth.