[Mastoid brain herniation following a cholesteatoma operation]

In the pre-antibiotic era a herniation of brain tissue into the mastoid was a fairly frequent event following the transmastoid drainage of brain abscesses. Since the introduction of antibiotics and refinement of operative techniques a brain hernia into the mastoid has nowadays become very rare. Two almost identical cases of brain hernia in a radical mastoidectomy cavity were recently observed by the author. The surgical management is presented and the literature discussed.