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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
Expansile bone cyst and cholesteatoma of the temporal bone
Harry S Hwang1, Christine M Glastonbury, James P Grenert
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. hhwang@ohns.ucsf.edu
Objective:
To identify primary bony cysts of the temporal bone.
Patient:
A single case of a woman presenting with unilateral bulging of the temporoparietal cranium, progressive stenosis of the external auditory canal, and maximal conductive hearing loss.
Intervention(S):
Plain x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, audiogram, and modified radical mastoidectomy.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Radiologic and histopathologic diagnosis of a primary bone cyst of the temporal bone obstructing the external auditory canal with a retained cholesteatoma of the middle ear.
Results:
Identification of an inflammatory bony cyst of the temporal bone with a retained cholesteatoma of the middle ear resulting in stenosis of the external auditory canal and maximal conductive hearing loss.
Conclusion:
Primary bone cyst of the temporal bone can lead to external auditory canal stenosis, middle ear cholesteatoma, and conductive hearing loss.
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