Although cholesteatoma are more commonly found in the middle ear and the mastoid, the disease can occur in the external auditory canal. Ten cases of external auditory canal cholesteatoma surgically treated at the Department of Otolaryngology in
Seoul
National University Hospital from January of 1980 to March of 1994 were reviewed. The average age was 23, and hearing loss and chronic intermittent otorrhea were the most common symptoms. Diagnosis was possible in consideration of physical,
radiologic,
and operative findings. The lesions ranged in extent from external auditory canal to extensive mastoid and middle ear cavity invasion. All the cases were managed surgically, either by canaloplasty or mastoidectomy according to the extent of the
lesion.
There was no recurrence, but 3 patients showed canal restenosis postoperatively. One of them was successfully managed by revision canaloplasty. It is thought that early detection and radical removal of lesions, and maintenance of wide external
auditory
canal are important factors in the management of the disease and the prevention of recurrence. (Korean J Otolaryngol 38:1, 1995)
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