[Bibliographic revision of retraction pockets handling in relation to surgical treatment]

There is a great controversy on the actuation on tympanic retraction pockets. Some authors back up the theory of carrying out periodic controls and of undergoing surgery only in case of more important lesions. Other otologist undergo early surgery, because they back up the hypothesis that if the injury is incipient, the surgery to carry out is smaller, having more chances of keeping the hearing. We revise the literature on the subject: with reference to the etiopathogenia of retraction pockets, its relation to cholesteatoma and the terapeutic possibilities according to various authors both defendans and detractors of surgery. We conclude that periodic otomicroscopy provides early diagnosis and control of the atelectasis of the tympanic membrana.