The origin of congenital cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to document histologically the origin of congenital cholesteatoma in neonatal temporal bones.

STUDY DESIGN

The study design was a systematic analysis of pediatric temporal bones.

SETTING

The study was performed at the temporal bone laboratory, Tufts University School of Medicine and New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

RESULTS

We describe histologic findings of a congenital cholesteatoma and a squamous epithelial rest in two postpartum patients. In both patients, the masses were asymptomatic and occurred in the anterosuperior quadrant of the middle ear cleft. This is the first histologic documentation of postpartum congenital cholesteatoma.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that these cases represent the first clear histologic documentation of the origin of congenital cholesteatoma.