Eustachian tube function in ears with cholesteatoma

Eustachian tube (ET) function was measured before and after surgery in patients with acquired cholesteatoma. The cholesteatoma group and a group of patients without cholesteatoma but with dry tympanic membrane perforations (TM-Perf) were compared in this respect. ET function was measured by the air pressure equalization technique; if necessary, a transmyringeal tube was inserted to establish direct communication between the external ear canal and the middle ear cleft. No difference in ET function was found before and after surgery in the cholesteatoma group. The ET testing results in the cholesteatoma group were inferior to those in the group with TM-Perf. These findings are discussed in relation to proper surgical procedure in ears with cholesteatoma.