Late results of obliterative cholesteatoma surgery.

Radical obliterative cholesteatoma surgery was performed on 463 ears. Post-operative cholesteatomas were found in 22 of 463 of the ears during the follow-up periods that ranged from five to 15 years. Eight of them were of the residual type, and 14 were of the recidive type. A substantial portion of the postoperative cholesteatomas (11 cases) was discovered as late as the sixth to the tenth postoperative years. Four of the postoperative cholesteatomas extended to the antrum or the operation cavity from the tympanic cavity or meatus, but none of them originated in the cavity area. The surgical method that was used was safe. Annual follow-up examinations for at least ten years are recommended after the obliterative radical operation for ears with cholesteatomas.