Cholesteatoma – Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Cure
In cholesteatoma the eustachian tube, which leads from the middle ear cavity to the nose and throat, either failed to open properly in infancy or has become blocked due to repeated middle ear infections. As a result, the air in the middle ear cavity becomes isolated. The air is gradually absorbed by the cells that line the cavity, and the air pressure in the cavity drops. The higher air pressure in the outer ear pushes the weakest part of the eardrum inwards. This forms a pocket in the eardrum. In that pocket, skin cells routinely shed by the eardrum collect into a ball called a cholesteatoma. The ball becomes infected, and produces pus. This erodes the bone that lines the cavity, and damages the delicate bones in the middle ear.
What are the symptoms?
Mild to moderately severe hearing loss is a common symptom. Sometimes pus will seep from the ear. Headache, earache, weakness of facial muscles and dizziness are also symptoms of cholesteatoma.
What are the risks?
If the cholesteatoma is not treated effectively, it can eat away the roof of the middle ear cavity. This sometimes causes epidural abcess or meningitis ). An abcess can also form behind the ear.
What should be done?
If you have any of the symptoms described. especially if you had a history of ear trouble as a child, see your physician. If your doctor suspects that you have a cholesteatoma, you will probably be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist for an examination and perhaps a hearing test .
If the cholesteatoma is small, or in an early stage, it may be possible to remove it and clean out the middle ear cavity thoroughly in a minor operation.
If the cholesteatoma is large or in a later stage, damage to the middle ear may be extensive. Then, removing the cholesteatoma becomes more complicated, involving an operation to rebuild the hearing structures and mend the broken eardrum.
In about 20 per cent of cases of cholesteatoma, the infection recurs. These infections are only dangerous if they are not treated right away. Your physician will probably check your ears at least once a year to make sure they are free of infection.
If your hearing is damaged badly, a hearing aid may help.
Tagged under:abcess, broken eardrum, cholesteatoma, ear nose and throat specialist, eustachian tube, facial muscles, hearing test, middle ear cavity, middle ear infections, minor operation, moderately severe, outer ear, The Middle Ear Uncategorized