As tuberculous otitis media is nowadays not common, young physicians are not good at the disease. Accordingly, the correct diagnosis can be delayed causing complications, for instances, irreversible hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, and so on. It is, moreover, so hard to make clear diagnosis when aural cholesteatoma is combined with tuberculosis of the middle ear. Recently, we experienced a case of tuberculous otitis media combined with cholesteatoma. The patient had a history of chronic otorrhea and was operated on with a presumptive diagnosis of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. Postoperatively the diagnosis of tuberculosis with cholesteatoma was established by histologic examination. We believe that any patient with a long history of discharging ears needs histologic examination, as tuberculosis might be the cause of infection. We report our findings in this patient and discuss the relationship between the tuberculosis and chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma with review of literatures.
Cholesteatoma* ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Ear, Middle ; Facial Nerve ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Paralysis ; Tuberculosis

The difference of transepidermal water loss(TEWL) between normal persons and patients with eczematous external otitis was identified by statistical analysis. In this study, 20 healthy volunteers without history of atopic dermatitis and 20 patients with eczematous external otitis were participated. Measurements were performed at ear lobes and other various anatomical sites(proximal forearm, mid forearm, distal forearm, palm, upper back, lower back, leg(shin), leg(calf), and sole) by Tewameter TM 210(Courage;Rhazaka, Koln, Germany). Prior to the procedure, subjects stayed still for 30 minutes in the room where the temperature was controlled(18-23degreesC) with a relative humidity of 35-45%. The results are summarized as follows:1) TEWL values at ear lobes were higher in patients with eczematous external otitis than in normal persons(p<0.05). 2) TEWL values at other various anatomical sites except upper back were higher in patients with eczematous external otitis than in normal persons(p<0.05).
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Ear ; Forearm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Humidity ; Otitis Externa*