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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
Histological Changes of the Middle Ear Ossicles Harvested during Cholesteatoma Surgery
Lukáš Školoudík1, Eva Šimáková2, David Kalfeřt3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
Background:
In the cholesteatoma surgery ossicles can be replaced to reconstruct middle ear function. It is important that these ossicles are free of squamous epithelium, to prevent residual disease. This study focuses on the histological findings of the malleus and incus harvested during cholesteatoma surgery.
Materials And Methods:
Eighty middle ears ossicles were examined in vivo and histologically to consider the relationship of cholesteatoma to ossicles, grade of bone destruction and invasion of cholesteatoma to deeper layers of bone.
Results:
Serious ossicular destruction was observed more frequently in incus compared to malleus (p=0.0065). Difference of ossicles destruction between children and adults was not significant (p=0.3032). Deep invasion of cholesteatoma into the vascular spaces or inner core of the bone was not observed.
Conclusions:
Autograft ossicles from cholesteatomatous ears should not necessarily be rejected for reconstruction of the ossicular chain. Regarding the histological finding, the authors suggest mechanical cleaning of the ossicle surface to eliminate residual disease.
