What Is A Cholesteatoma?
Cholesteatomas are destructive cysts found in the middle ear. They can either be congenital (from birth), or acquired later in life. Acquired cholesteatomas can be caused by a tear in the ear drum. Common symptoms are hearing loss, a strong-smelling discharge from the ear (usually brown or yellow), bleeding from the ear, dizziness, vertigo, difficulty balancing, ear aches, headaches, or ringing in the ears. There can also be a facial nerve weakness. However, some cholesteatomas do not cause any symptoms.
Are Cholesteatomas treatable?Cholesteatomas can be removed by surgery, which may also include a mastoidectomy to remove a small portion of mastoid process bone that may be contributing to the problem. If left untreated, the cholesteatoma could lead to nerve deterioration, deafness, imbalance, and vertigo, and severe infections.
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