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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
Cholesterol granuloma of the petrous apex: benefit of computer-aided surgery
Marco Caversaccio1, Eugène Panosetti, Panagiotis Ziglinas
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. marco.caversaccio@insel.ch
Abstract:
The following is an analysis of the role of computer aided surgery by infralabyrinthine-subcochlear approach to the petrous apex for cholesterol granulomas with hearing preservation. In a retrospective case review from 1996 to 2008 six patients were analysed in our tertiary referral centre, otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic. Excellent intraoperative localisation of the carotid artery, facial nerve and the entrance into the cholesterol cyst of the bone by means of the navigation system was seen. Additionally, the operation time decreased from an initial 4 h down to 2 h. The application of computer-aided surgery allows intraoperative monitoring of the position of the tip of the microsurgical instruments in case of a rare disease and in the delicate area of the petrous apex giving a high security level.
