Cholesteatoma extending into the sternocleidomastoid muscle presenting as a Bezold abscess

Cholesteatoma is a non-neoplastic cystic lesion arising in the middle ear cleft with the propensity to spread and recur after surgery, but it is unusual to find cholesteatoma invading sternocleidomastoid muscle after 15 years of modified radical mastoidectomy and presenting as Bezold abscess. In this report, the authors highlight the fact that cholesteatoma recurrence if neglected can present as a Bezold abscess with the invasion of cholesteatoma from the mastoid tip into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This requires complete excision of the cholesteatoma sac along with the surrounding soft tissue.