Extramastoid cholesteatoma in chronic ear disease: a report of two cases

Two patients who had undergone radical mastoid surgery developed an isolated focus of cholesteatoma embedded in the sternomastoid muscle just below the mastoid tip. In one instance the etiology was felt to be iatrogenic implantation of squamous epithelium. In the second, unrecognized extension from the mastoid tip probably occurred. The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss in detail the clinical and pathological features of these two cases.