Cholesteatoma Classification: Review of Literature and Proposed Indian Classification System-TAMPFIC

Classification systems provides a tool for segregating cases based on their similarities. It can be used by healthcare professionals for representation, comparison, communication, discussion and for standardizing treatment protocols across the geographical boundaries. Cholesteatoma is prevalent in developed as well as developing nations posing a great burden on economic and health sector. Even though systems for classification of cholesteatoma are already being used in some places, however none of them is yet universally accepted due to their complex nature. After a thorough review of the most popular systems, we attempt to propose an Indian classification system for cholesteatoma "TAMPFIC". The system is based on clinical representations and will allow us to standardize the reporting of the disease and its extension along with all possible complications in a simple and unique way and will also help in reporting surgical outcomes for the same. Reporting of surgical outcomes will not only help in comparison but will also help in standardizing treatment protocols for similar kind of cases in future. It will require multi centric approach for validating our system to reach a common consensus for defining treatment protocols. We hope this system acquires universal acceptance and presents itself as a single new tool for classification of cholesteatoma with international consensus in near future.