Pressures exerted by experimental cholesteatomas.

Previous studies have shown that transmitted pressure may be an important factor in the induction of osteoclastic bone resorption by cholesteatoma. However, the ability of cholesteatomas to actually exert pressure on adjacent structures has not been studied. Implantable pressure gauges were used to measure static pressure exerted by induced gerbilline cholesteatomas. Cholesteatomas were found to exert pressures between 1.31 mm Hg and 11.88 mm Hg. Osteoclastic bone resorption was observed in areas where the pressure gauge transmitted these pressures to bone. Thus, pressure exerted by an expanding cholesteatoma may be an important factor in the induction of osteoclastic bone resorption.