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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
The Science of Cholesteatoma
Tirth R Patel1, Christopher M Welch1
1Division of Otology/Neurotology-Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1500 Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Abstract:
Cholesteatoma is a potential end-stage outcome of chronic ear infections that can result in the destruction of temporal bone structures with potential resultant hearing loss, vertigo, and intracranial infectious complications. There is currently no treatment apart from surgery for this condition, and despite years of study, the histopathogenesis of this disease remains poorly understood. This review is intended to summarize our accumulated knowledge of the mechanisms of cholesteatoma development and the underlying molecular biology. Attention will be directed particularly to recent developments, covering many potential pharmacologic targets that could be used to treat this disease in the future.

