The optimal surgical treatment for canal-wall-up mastoidectomy of external auditory canal cholesteatoma

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the optimal surgical excision treatment for external auditory canal (EAC) cholesteatoma involving the posterior wall and partial mastoid process.

Methods: This study included 115 inpatients (152 ears) diagnosed with EAC cholesteatoma involving posterior wall and partial mastoid from April 2022 to April 2024. Each patient underwent a canal-wall-up mastoidectomy, canaloplasty, and tympanoplasty. Preoperative clinical symptoms and hearing were compared with postoperative outcomes during follow-ups.

Results: All patients achieved a dry-ear status and remained relapse-free over the 0.5-2 years' follow-ups. The most salient improvements were observed in hearing loss, oltagia, and aural fullness after the surgical intervention.

Conclusion: For EAC cholesteatoma with the posterior canal wall and partial mastoid invasion, canal-wall-up mastoidectomy with reconstruction of the posterior canal wall is preferable, provided there are no severely extensive cholesteatomas present in the mastoid.

Keywords

cholesteatoma / external auditory canal / hearing loss / mastoidectomy / surgery

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The Author(s). Eye & ENT Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Higher Education Press.