Temporal bone cholesteatoma.

Clinical features of temporal bone cholesteatoma are miscellaneous, and sometimes misleading: signs of middle ear cholesteatoma, progressive or sudden facial palsy, sensorineural deafness as in acoustic neuroma, conductive deafness as in otosclerosis, secretory otitis media, or intracranial complications. Polytomography is the only way to pinpoint topography and extension. CT scanning is very useful in determining extension. Topography and severity of deafness are the guidelines for surgical approach. Among sixteen cases, total deafness was produced by the lesion itself in ten cases, and six had an intact inner ear; preservation of hearing was possible in only three. Supralabyrinthine cholesteatomas (five cases) are best managed by the middle fossa approach. Infralabyrinthine cholesteatomas (six cases) must be removed via the infratemporal approach with anterior displacement of the tympanic and mastoid segments of the facial nerve and permanent obliteration of the middle ear. Posterior perilabyrinthine cholesteatoma (five cases) may be removed by the otologic approach combined with the middle ear fossa approach if the inner ear is to be preserved. If hearing loss is total, the translabyrinthine approach can be used.