Endoscopic transcanal surgery of pars tensa cholesteatoma: Preliminary results

The aim of the present study is the assessment of exclusive endoscopic ear surgery for the management of primarily acquired pars tensa cholesteatoma, which is commonly linked to the failure of the Eustachian tube leading to the formation of retraction pockets.

Patients suffering from primarily acquired pars tensa cholesteatoma, who underwent primary surgery in our clinic, between 2014 and 2018 were included in this retrospective study. The disease was classified according to the EAONO/JOS system. Exclusive endoscopic ear surgery was performed for patients without mastoid involvement, while a microscopic-endoscopic tympanoplasty was carried out in case of mastoid extension. We assessed the recidivism rate during the follow-up.

Cholesteatomas belonged to stage I in 28% of cases, to stage II in 68% and only one patient was stage III. Only a portion of the pars tensa was involved in 13 instances, the whole pars tensa in 3 and both the tensa and the flaccida in 9. 17 out of 25 patients underwent exclusive endoscopic ear surgery and 8 needed a combined approach. We discovered 1 recurrence and 6 residual diseases.

With only one case of recurrence in our series, we showed how pars tensa cholesteatoma cannot be exclusively explained through Eustachian tube dysfunction, but also through a ventilation blockage between the Eustachian tube and other mesotympanic areas due to the formation of intratympanic folds. Endoscopic ear surgery proved highly effective in the control of recurrences and it should be considered the treatment of choice.