OBJECTIVETo discuss the best strategy in tympanoplasty for cholesteatoma in pediatric patient. Both intact canal wall mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty (ICW) and canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty (CWD) were the basic technique for cholesteatoma in pediatric patient. The outcomes of ICW and CWD as comparisons of different surgical technique were assessed.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of all cases of pediatric primary acquired cholesteatoma aged 4-14 years old between April, 1997 and October, 2003 was conducted. The follow-up information was completed. Forty-two patients (45 ears) were treated and followed from 1 to 7 years [ the average is (3.6 +/- 2. 6) years].

RESULTSICW was the primary surgical treatment in 20 patients (20 ears) initially, the recidivism rate was 30% ( 6/20), the achieved rate of pure-tone threshold average (PTA) was 77% (13/17); Twenty-five (two) patients (45 ears) underwent CWD, the recidivism rate was 4% (1/25), the achieved rate of PTA was 72% (18/25).

CONCLUSIONSICW had the advantage which could preserve the physical structure of the external acoustic meatus and had more profits for the treatment of cholesteatoma in pediatric patients, but it should be done for planned second stage surgery as a routine method that could get over the defect of recrudescence . If the function of eustachian tube was still not normal when planned second stage surgery operation was done, the CWD was suggested instead.