The pathogenesis and treatment of cholesteatoma.

Congenital cholesteatoma, which arises from embryonic epidermoid tissue, is rare. In the majority of cases the cholesteatoma is acquired. It may develop as a retraction pocket involving the whole membrane, as a result of migration over the perforation edges or as basal cell invasion behind an intact membrane. There is no evidence for a metaplastic process or a Langerhans' cell mediated origin. Treatment modalities include several methods of either conservative or radical surgery, the main aim being one-stage total eradication of cholesteatoma and simultaneous reconstruction. With appropriate surgical methods recurrence figures after 5 years should remain under 10%. The patient's own tissues are the material of choice in the reconstruction.