Results of conservative surgery for middle ear cholesteatoma

A retrospective study was carried out to analyze treatment results for cholesteatoma at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. All patients undergoing primary surgical treatment from January 1, 1969 to December 31, 1973 were followed through October 1976. Treatment failures were based on the occurrence of postoperative cholesteatoma. The probability of being disease free for periods up to five years after original surgery was then estimated for each type of operation. Postoperative cholesteatoma occurred after atticotomy in 17%, intact canal wall mastoidectomy in 35%, and modified radical mastoidectomy in 9%. The postoperative cholesteatoma rate in the group having intact canal wall mastoidectomy was more than twice as high for those patients under age nine. The likelihood of being disease free five years after intact canal wall surgery was estimated to be 36% using the life table method. Disease recurrence was significantly higher after intact canal wall surgery compared to other surgical methods. The effectiveness of this method should be evaluated in a randomized, prospective manner to minimize patient selection and treatment bias.