Cholesteatoma: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Cholesteatoma is a destructive alteration of part of the middle ear mucosa that becomes epithelial tissue. As a result, it produces dead cells that are easily infected.
In other words, it is a cystic structure due to the accumulation of squamous epithelium where a mucosa should be found. It is a benign disorder.
According to some clinical studies, this pathology causes irreversible hearing loss, destruction of bone structures and serious complications due to its expansive nature.
Although this is a rare disease, it is essential to detect the symptoms quickly and intervene as soon as possible. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about cholesteatoma.
Diffusion
Many ailments cause earache. Cholesteatoma could be at the origin of this symptom, but it is not the only cause. However, it is advisable to know which groups are likely to develop this condition.
A study published in a journal of otolaryngology and cervico-facial surgery provides us with a series of data relating to the worldwide spread of cholesteatoma. The statistics are as follows:
- This is a very rare condition. It affects the population between 3 and 70 years of age, with an average of 41 years.
- Its prevalence, or the number of individuals affected by the disease in a given population, is 3 children per 100,000 and 9 adults per 100,000.
- After treatment, 10 to 20% of cases tend to relapse.
This is a rare condition, but it is also difficult to treat. An early diagnosis is therefore essential. Over time, the cyst grows, putting the individual’s hearing and well-being at risk.
What is cholesteatoma and what are its causes?
This pathology is the consequence of the formation of a benign lesion. This lesion is due to the presence of keratinized squamous epithelium in an abnormal region, namely the epitympanum, mastoid and middle ear. According to the aforementioned sources, three types of cholesteatoma are known:
- Congenital : The healthy eardrum has embryonic remains of skin.
- Acquired primary : it originates from retraction pockets of the tympanic membrane, which according to studies are typical depressions of some areas of the eardrum.
- Acquired secondary : occurs following tympanic perforation due to an infectious process, usually in childhood. This lesion does not heal properly, therefore it favors the appearance of the cyst.
Acquired cholesteatomas are considered a variant of chronic otitis media, and the primary type is the most common in the general population. It is also necessary to clarify that a cholesteatoma can also be classified according to the area of the ear canal affected.
Symptoms
The National Library of Medicine reports that the symptoms of cholesteatoma can be different. The most common are summarized below:
- Dizziness.
- Purulent discharge that can become chronic due to the appearance of infectious processes inside the ear. This condition is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of fullness or pressure within the skull.
- Hearing loss : due to reduced sound transmission due to the cyst present in the ear canal.
- Paralysis of the facial nerve by compression of neighboring structures as a result of infectious processes.
- Brain abscesses or meningitis.
It is a pathology that can manifest itself with quite serious symptoms as the cyst increases in size with the passage of time and this causes various complications. These include the breakage of some middle ear bones or other ear structures. Nonetheless, it should be noted that some people present with the disease asymptomatically.
Treatment of cholesteatoma
Treatment of cholesteatoma is complex, as it is not always possible to remove the entire cyst. And this is precisely the reason why 10 to 20% of cases can relapse over time. Regular checks are therefore necessary.
The definitive treatment is surgical in nature, as the surgery removes the mass of tissue. Unfortunately, sometimes it is also necessary to remove the ossicular chain in the middle ear. The surgeon may also need to replace adjacent damaged bones with cartilage or synthetic structures.
Cholesteatoma is rare, but it requires attention
Cholesteatoma is an uncommon disease that is atypically but uniformly distributed in the population. When faced with hearing loss or earache, the doctor will consider this as an unlikely cause.
If not diagnosed and treated promptly, cholesteatoma can cause severe damage to the patient’s hearing system. If you have a hearing disorder, consulting your doctor quickly will always be the best option.
