Delayed endolymphatic hydrops （DEH） is a rare disease that causes vertigo and is often misdiagnosed as other vertigo diseases. This article reports on a patient with vertigo who was easily misdiagnosed. The patient was a middle ear cholesteatoma complicated by labyrinthine fistula （LF）; however, his vertigo was episodic vertigo, which could not be explained solely by LF causing labyrinthitis. The possibility of endolymphatic hydrops was suspected, which was confirmed by inner ear magnetic resonance gadolinium imaging. This is the first reported case of middle ear cholesteatoma complicated by LF and DEH. The patient underwent surgical resection of the cholesteatoma and three semicircular canal obstructions at the same time. During two years postoperative follow-up, the patient did not experience a recurrence of vertigo. When diagnosing vertigo diseases, a careful history of vertigo is of utmost importance.
Humans ; Endolymphatic Hydrops/diagnosis* ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/complications* ; Vertigo/complications* ; Labyrinth Diseases/complications* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/adverse effects* ; Semicircular Canals

OBJECTIVE: Differences in clinical features, especially facial nerve canal leision between cholesteatoma in external auditory meatus and middle ear were compaired. METHOD: A retrospective clinical analysis was made. Clinical data included 125 cases of middle ear cholesteatoma with facial nerve canal leision and 28 cases of cholesteatoma occurred in external auditory canal from 2003-01-2014-08 in our hospital. RESULT: Clinical course of cholesteatoma in external auditory canal was 4.97 ± 7.51 years, course of middle ear cholesteatoma was 16.60 ± 14.42 years (P < 0.01). 21 cases (75%) of external auditory canal cholesteatoma were manifested as pneumatic mastoid and 110 cases (88%) of middle ear cholesteatoma were manifested as diploic mastoid respectively. 22 cases (78.6%) of facial nerve canal damage-in mastoid segment in cholesteatoma of external auditory meatus and 76 cases (60.8%) of facial nerve canal damage in tympanic segment in cholesteatoma of middle ear were observed (P < 0.01). The incidence rate of ossicular errosion in middle ear chol-esteatoma was significantly higher than that in external auditory meatus (P < 0.01). The incidence of semicircular canal defects in middle ear cholesteatoma (30.4%), was significantly higher when comparing to the incidence (10.7%) in cholesteatoma of external auditory meatus (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The site of facial nerve canal lesion in middle ear cholesteatoma and cholesteatoma of external auditory meatus were different. More attention should be paid before and during operation to avoid facial nerve injury, including physical examinations, especial otologic exams, radiological reading and careful operation.
Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Ear Canal ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mastoid ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of labyrinthine fistula and obtain the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of different types of fistula. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 42 cases (43 ears) with labyrinthine fistula in our hospital from January 2007 to November 2014 was conducted. Data of preoperative clinical manifestation, auditory function, CT image, operative findings, treatment and postoperative recovery were collected and statistically analysed. RESULT: Thirty-nine cases (40 ears) of the 42 cases (43 ears) which were diagnosed as labyrinthine fistula according to operative findings occurred in the lateral semicircular canal, 1 case occurred in the posterior semicircular canal, 1 case occurred in the superior semicircular canal, and 1 case occurred both in lateral and posterior semicircular canal. Before operation, 24 ears (55.8% ) experienced vertigo and 14 ears (32.6%) showed impaired bone conduction hearing threshold. According to Dornhoffer classification standard, 22 cases (23 ears) were diagnosed as type I fistula, 9 cases as type II fistula and 11 cases as type III fistula. There was no statistical difference among the 3 groups on type of hearing loss, vertigo, CT, facial nerve canal damage before operation and bone conduction hearing threshold, vertigo after operation. CONCLUSION An accurate diagnosis of labyrinthine fistula relies on the operative findings rather than preoperative clinical manifestation, auditory function or CT The surgical intervention should be individualized. There is no significant difference on postoperative recovery among different types of labyrinthine fistula.
Bone Conduction ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; complications ; Deafness ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; Fistula ; etiology ; Humans ; Labyrinth Diseases ; etiology ; Otitis Media ; complications ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo

BACKGROUNDLabyrinthine fistula (LF) is a very common clinical complication mainly caused by middle ear cholesteatoma. Whether the presence of different degree LF caused by middle ear cholesteatoma aggravates neurosensory hearing loss (NSHL) and what is the degree of the hearing loss caused by LF were still under controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether the LF degree is correlative with the age distribution, disease duration and hearing loss degree for cholesteatomatous patients.

METHODSThe files of 143 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma were selected and reviewed in a retrospective study. Seventy-eight patients with LF were divided into three types according to the degree of destruction of labyrinth. Sixty-five patients without LF were randomly chosen for control. Then, we compared the clinical characteristics of patients with or without labyrinthine fistulae caused by middle ear cholesteatoma.

RESULTSAccording to the study, cholesteatomatous patients with LF were older and suffered longer disease duration than those without LF. Hearing loss is severe with high frequencies both in patients with and without LF. Moreover, inner ear impairment is correlative with the degree of destruction in labyrinth, and more severe destruction in labyrinth follow the more severe symptoms correlative with inner ear impairment.

CONCLUSIONSurgical intervention should be performed as early as possible for these cholesteatomatous patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; complications ; surgery ; Fistula ; etiology ; Humans ; Labyrinth Diseases ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the characteristic of destructive ossicular chain and it's impact on air-bone gap (ABG) among patients with cholesteatoma. METHOD: Data from 204 cases (213 ears) undergoing an initial surgery for cholesteatoma were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the relationships between preoperative pure tone audiometry data and intraoperative assessment of individual ossicular destruction. RESULT: Incus was the most significantly affected ossicle. Furthermore, the destruction of malleus and stapes was often accompanied by the destruction of incus. A partially eroded incus caused significantly increase in ABG from that of an intact incus with cholesteatoma abutting (P < 0.05). A partially eroded incus and a partially eroded stapes caused significantly increase in ABG compared to a partially eroded incus (P < 0.05). A completely eroded incus caused significantly increase in ABG compared to a partially eroded incus (P < 0.05). False fibre-connected would significantly influence on ABG in some ossicular chain erosion patterns (P < 0.05). Cholesteatoma abutting an intact ossicle significantly altered average ABG compared to a normal ossicle (P < 0 01). CONCLUSION Different ossicular chain erosion pattern caused different degrees of ABG.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Conduction ; Child ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; complications ; pathology ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Incus ; pathology ; Male ; Malleus ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stapes ; pathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transcanal antrotomy approach (TCA) enables not only good exposure but also minimal incision approach required for pediatric congenital cholesteatoma (CC). The addition of "CO2 laser enabled ablation and resection (CLEAR)" would facilitate safe and complete removal of CC from stapes. This study evaluates the clinical results of surgically removing CC through TCA with CLEAR (minimal incision approach with CO2 laser, MICL). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The medical records of patients who underwent endaural extended tympanostomy, MICL, or postauricular approach for CC removal from January 2009 to September 2011 were reviewed in this study. RESULTS: MICL was performed in 37 patients of Potsic I, II CC. It was effective in surgical exposure and reducing the chance of residual CC. MICL could satisfactorily avoid postauricular tympanomastoidectomy, which allowed preservation of healthy mastoid air cells for almost all Potsic III CC, including posterior CC (14 patients). MICL was also useful for 6 cases of Potsic IV CC that extended beyond the incus posterosuperiorly to the auditus ad antrum. Children were not committed to second look operation because the attic was exteriorized with-out the cavity problem and the complete removal of CC from the stapes was facilitated with CLEAR. CONCLUSION: MICL enabled sufficient exposure with less invasive approach as well as complete CC removal, which reduced the postoperative complications and needs for second look operation. This surgical technique could be widely used for Potsic stage I, II, III, and some IV CC.
Child ; Cholesteatoma ; Ear Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incus ; Lasers, Gas ; Mastoid ; Medical Records ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Postoperative Complications ; Stapes

Adult ; Brain Abscess ; etiology ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications

Brain hernia into the middle ear cavity is quite a rare entity which is often caused by chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma and surgical complications. Other unusual factors such as extension of the intracranial meningioma, primary temporal bone meningioma and aberrant arachnoid granulation can also cause hernia of brain tissue. Brain hernia can be diagnosed through temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT) and brain magnetic resonance image (MRI), which show the location of bony defect and similar signal intensity between the herniated tissue and brain. We present a 50-year old female patient, who suffered from otorrhea 8 years ago; otorrhear disappeared 4 years ago and rhinorrhea 1 years ago. She had not have any history of chronic otitis media and otologic surgery. The herniated cerebellum was diagnosed through the TBCT and brain MRI. She was successfully cured after cerebellar reduction operation without any postoperative complications.
Arachnoid ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea ; Cholesteatoma ; Ear, Middle ; Encephalocele ; Female ; Hernia ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Meningioma ; Otitis Media ; Postoperative Complications ; Temporal Bone

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There have been heated controversies over the choice of the canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWD) and canal wall up mastoidectomy (CWU), which are operational methods used to eliminate the lesion of cholesteatoma. Combining the advantages of both methods, we reconstructed the posterior canal wall with conchal cartilage plate and obliterated mastoid cavity with bone chips (group I), or hydroxyapatite mixed with bone chips (group II) since 2001. This study was designed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of posterior canal wall reconstruction with mastoid obliteration in the treatment of cholesteatoma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From January of 2001 to March of 2007, the posterior canal wall reconstruction with mastoid obliteration was conducted on 66 patients. There were 30 cases of cholesteatoma and 36 cases of old radical cavity. The postoperative observation period ranged from 5 to 74 months, with the average period of 34.7 months. We analyzed the postoperative complications, and hearing results of the 33 ossicular reconstruction cases. RESULTS: There was 1 case of residual cholesteatoma in the middle ear cavity, but no recurrent cholesteatoma. In most cases, reconstructed canal wall was maintained well, but partial canal wall resorption and postauricular dimpling occurred in 5 cases of group I. On the other hand, the epithelization of posterior canal wall was incomplete in 4 cases of group II. After surgery, no patients complained any cavity problems at all. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that this procedure can prevent cavity problems and reduce the recurrence of cholesteatoma with destructed canal wall.
Cartilage ; Cholesteatoma ; Durapatite ; Ear, Middle ; Hand ; Hearing ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence

Adolescent ; Cholesteatoma ; complications ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; Ear, Middle ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Male ; Temporal Bone