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

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate postoperative mastoid aeration according to the preoperative middle ear disease and investigate the factors affecting it. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of temporal bones that were taken 1 year after surgery. The postoperative mastoid aeration was evaluated according to the preoperative diagnosis, and classified into three groups: grade 1 (complete mastoid aeration), an air-filled epitympanum and mastoid cavity; grade 2 (partial mastoid aeration), an air-filled epitympanum and partially aerated mastoid cavity; and grade 3 (absence of mastoid aeration), no air space in the mastoid cavity. RESULTS: The overall mastoid aeration rate was 55.8%, with adhesive otitis media accounting for 21.2%, attic cholesteatoma 53.8%, and chronic otitis media 75.4%. The rates of postoperative mastoid aeration were significantly higher in the chronic otitis media cases and attic cholesteatoma cases than in the adhesive otitis media cases. There were 14 cases requiring revision operations due to the development of a retraction pocket in the tympanic membrane. All of the revised cases had grade 3 postoperative mastoid aeration, and underwent canal wall down mastoidectomies. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of postoperative mastoid aeration is associated with the preoperative middle ear disease. When planning a canal wall up mastoidectomy, the surgeon should contemplate the middle ear disease, because a canal wall down mastoidectomy or mastoid obliteration is recommended if the patient has adhesive otitis media.
Adhesives ; Cholesteatoma ; Diagnosis ; Ear, Middle* ; Humans ; Mastoid* ; Otitis Media ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Bone* ; Tympanic Membrane

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate postoperative mastoid aeration according to the preoperative middle ear disease and investigate the factors affecting it. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of temporal bones that were taken 1 year after surgery. The postoperative mastoid aeration was evaluated according to the preoperative diagnosis, and classified into three groups: grade 1 (complete mastoid aeration), an air-filled epitympanum and mastoid cavity; grade 2 (partial mastoid aeration), an air-filled epitympanum and partially aerated mastoid cavity; and grade 3 (absence of mastoid aeration), no air space in the mastoid cavity. RESULTS: The overall mastoid aeration rate was 55.8%, with adhesive otitis media accounting for 21.2%, attic cholesteatoma 53.8%, and chronic otitis media 75.4%. The rates of postoperative mastoid aeration were significantly higher in the chronic otitis media cases and attic cholesteatoma cases than in the adhesive otitis media cases. There were 14 cases requiring revision operations due to the development of a retraction pocket in the tympanic membrane. All of the revised cases had grade 3 postoperative mastoid aeration, and underwent canal wall down mastoidectomies. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of postoperative mastoid aeration is associated with the preoperative middle ear disease. When planning a canal wall up mastoidectomy, the surgeon should contemplate the middle ear disease, because a canal wall down mastoidectomy or mastoid obliteration is recommended if the patient has adhesive otitis media.
Adhesives ; Cholesteatoma ; Diagnosis ; Ear, Middle* ; Humans ; Mastoid* ; Otitis Media ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Bone* ; Tympanic Membrane

Child ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics of unilateral conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane, and summarize the key diagnostic points, differential diagnosis and observe the effects of surgical treatment.

METHODSWe reviewed data from 82 patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membranes who accepted the exploratory tympanotomy from April 2011 to September 2013. There were 41 males and 41 females, aged from 7 to 66( averaged 26.5±13.7)years, with a history of one month to 50 years. The history, clinical symptoms, audiological evaluation, high resolution temporal bone CT, the results of surgical exploration and hearing reconstruction were analyzed.

RESULTSThe exploratory tympanotomy revealed 43 cases of congenital middle ear malformations (52.4%), 22 cases of otosclerosis (26.8%), eight cases of congenital cholesteatoma (9.8%), six cases of trauma induced conductive hearing loss (7.3%), three cases of congenital ossicular malformations with congenital cholesteatoma (3.7%). Progressive hearing loss was common in patients with otosclerosis and congenital cholesteatoma, and patients with congenital middle ear malformations described their hearing loss since childhood. High resolution temporal bone CT of congenital middle ear malformation, trauma induced conductive hearing loss, congenital cholesteatoma diagnosis rate was 40.0%, 50.0%, and 83.3% respectively. The preoperative air-conductive threshold of patients with absence of the oval window were increased to (66.9±1.1)dBHL, the preoperative bone-conductive threshold achieved (28.3±10.4)dBHL at 2 000 Hz. While patients with stapes fixation and that with ossicular chain discontinuity were (27.2±9.7)dBHL and (17.8±8.8)dBHL(P=0.000)respectively. Through the tympanic exploration with endaural incision under the microscope, different hearing reconstruction were applied according to different lesions. After the operation, the hearing level of 52 patients with return visit were improved, the mean air-conductive threshold were decreased from (60.0±11.4)dBHL to (32.2±12.1)dBHL(P=0.000); and the mean ABG were decreased from (43.2±12.0)dB to (16.3±9.4)dB(P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONSCongenital middle ear malformations, otosclerosis, congenital cholesteatoma are the most common causes in unilateral conductive hearing loss with an intact tympanic membrane. The diagnosis rate can be improved by analyzing the clinical features. Through exploratory tympanotomy and hearing reconstruction, we can clarify the diagnosis and achieve a satisfying hearing recover.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Audiometry ; Child ; Cholesteatoma ; congenital ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ear Ossicles ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; abnormalities ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otosclerosis ; pathology ; Tympanic Membrane ; Young Adult

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

Cholesteatoma ; diagnosis ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Otitis Media ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To classify the external auditory canal cholesteatoma(EACC) by high-resolution temporal bone CT scans and the clinical findings of the patients, and to discuss the clinical and imaging characteristics and the surgical management of the extensive EACC. METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out among 56 patients (58 ears) with EACC and their clinical data were carefully analyzed. We classified EACC as the extensive type and the localized type. The operation strategy depended on the extent of lesion. All cases were followed up for 1 to 6 years after surgery. RESULT: There were 31 patients with localized EACC, 2 with no bone erosion and 29 (31 ears) with bone erosion within external auditory canal, and 25 patients with extensive EACC, 16 with bone erosion of intra temporal bone and 9 with bone erosion of extra temporal bone. Among all the 25 patients with the extensive type, the most common symptoms were otorrhea, otalgia and hearing loss, with 25, 23, 22 cases, respectively. The tympanic membrane (TM) was intact in 23 patients and perforated in two. The mastoid air cells in 23 patients were involved by the lesion, as well as tympanic antrum in eight, tympanic cavity in two, sigmoid sinus bony wall in five, mastoid segment of facial canal in four, and temporomandibular joint in two patients. Twenty patients underwent modified radical mastoidectomy, only one underwent reconstruction of ossicular chain, and four underwent canaloplasty. The average time of ear dry after surgery was 29 days. The postoperative hearing was improved by an average of 15 dB. No recurrence except for one patient was found during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION It was of important clinical significance to classify EACC as the extensive type and the localized type. The extensive EACC was misdiagnosed easily because of the complicated clinical manifestations. The classification was helpful for the diagnosis and the selection of surgery strategy of EACC.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cholesteatoma ; classification ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Ear Canal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the location, clinical symptom, image features, treatment and prognosis of the congenital middle ear cholesteatoma. METHOD: Retrospective review of 9 patients treated at Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the affiliated Hospital of the first Strasbourg University, France. RESULT: The mean age was 6.1 years. Including 7 boys and 2 girls with hearing loss, and 7 of them suffered conductive hearing loss. Typical cholesteatomas were found behind posterior tympanic membrane according the otoscopic examinations in 6 cases. CT were completed in 8 of 9 cases, spheroid or ovoid masses were found in the tympanic cavities, most of them located in the posterior region. All of the patients underwent the surgical treatment, 5 of 9 cases had the ossicular erosion. Four of 9 cases had the residual diseases. All of the cases were followed-up at the mean period of 5.3 years, the preoperative hearing threshold is 28 dB compared with 26 dB of postoperative hearing threshold. CONCLUSION Congenital middle ear cholesteatoma is a rare and hiding lesion. The symptoms are more typical in children than that in adults, which is unilateral conductive hearing loss. Likewise,the preoperative CT scanning is important. The rate of residual lesions and prognosis of congenital cholesteatoma is mainly depended on the extension and the methods of the surgery, revision surgery as well.
Auditory Threshold ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; congenital ; diagnosis ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Congenital middle ear cholesteatoma (CMEC) is a rare disease entity in otolaryngology. However, we try to assess the characteristic features and recurrences of CMEC in pediatric patients according to stages, and to determine the value of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan. Retrospective review of 35 cases of CMEC under the age of 15 yr that had been treated at the tertiary referral center from 1995 through 2006. The main outcome measures were CT findings, surgical findings, recurrence rate and hearing assessment. Preoperative CT scan accurately predicted the extent of the cholesteatoma seen during surgery in 30/35 (85.7%). The recurrence rate of CMEC was 5.7% (2/35) and all of recurred cases were stage IV. In recurred cases, cholesteatomas were extended to sinus tympani and facial recess at revisional operation as well as initial operation. So we concluded that preoperative CT scan is essential in defining the extent of existing pathology. The intraoperative CMEC extension and location influence the outcome of surgery. In the higher stages, careful eradication of disease, particularly in the region of sinus tympani and facial recess is recommended.
Adolescent ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/*congenital/*diagnosis/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed