Hearing preservation despite labyrinthectomy for resection of giant cholesteatoma with middle fossa extension.

A case is described of an extensive acquired cholesteatoma of the middle ear cleft which had invaded the middle cranial fossa and produced a mass effect on the temporal lobe. It had also extended into the labyrinth without causing elevation in the bone conduction threshold. Furthermore, even after total bony labyrinthectomy, there was very little elevation in these thresholds. The literature relating to hearing preservation after labyrinthectomy is reviewed.