Recurrent Cholesteatoma: Why it occurs?

A cholesteatoma is an expansion of keratinizing squamous epithelium that enters the middle ear cleft from the outer layer of the tympanic membrane or ear canal. Choleatomas are always treated surgically. Recurrence of the illness presents another challenge for the patient and the surgeon, though. There have been reports of recurrence rates as high as 30% in adults and as high as 70% in children. Here, we describe a case of persistent recurrent otorrhea following revision surgery, along with acquired recurrent cholesteatoma following canal wall down surgery. A 38-year -male with underlying Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension presented with left scanty and foul-smelling ear discharge for 2 years and left reduced hearing. He was diagnosed with left chronic active otitis media with cholesteatoma for which he underwent left modified radical mastoidectomy, meatoplasty and tympanoplasty in 2017. Five months post operatively, he presented with left otorrhea. However, he defaulted followed up and presented in April 2018 for similar complaints. Otoscopy examination revealed left tympanic membrane perforation at poster superior quadrant of pars tensa and bluish discoloration behind pars flacida. He was diagnosed as recurrent left cholesteatoma and subsequently he underwent left mastoid exploration under general anesthesia in June 2018. Postsurgery, he developed recurrent ear discharge which was treated with topical antibiotics and ear toileting. We report a case of recurrent Cholesteatoma despite canal wall down procedure requiring a second redo procedure and with persistent recurrent otorrhea after the redo procedure.However, this case demonstrates the need for regular follow ups even after a canal wall down procedure for detecting recurrence of disease. Moreover, this case denotes some of the patient factors and surgeon factors involved in disease recurrence. Furthermore, importance of opting for an imaging study in case of high suspicion of the disease.

Congenital cholesteatoma: what radiologists need to know.

Congenital cholesteatoma is a rare, non-neoplastic lesion that causes conductive hearing loss in children. It is underrecognized and often diagnosed only when there is an established hearing deficit. In the pediatric population, hearing deficiency is particularly detrimental because it can impede speech and language development and, in turn, the social and academic well-being of affected children. Delayed diagnosis leads to advanced disease that requires more extensive surgery and a greater chance of recurrence. A need to promote awareness and recognition of this condition has been advocated by clinicians and surgeons, but no comprehensive imaging review dedicated to this entity has been performed. This review aims to discuss the diagnostic utility of high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative and postoperative settings in congenital cholesteatoma. Detailed emphasis is placed on the essential preoperative computed tomography findings that facilitate individualized surgical management and prognosis in the pediatric population.

Allograft bone vs. bioactive glass in rehabilitation of canal wall-down surgery.

Canal wall-down (CWD) mastoidectomy creates a radical cavity that modifies the anatomy and physiology of the middle ear, thus preventing it from being self-cleaning and causing epidermal stagnation in the posterior cavities. Canal wall-down tympanomastoidectomy with reconstruction (CWDTwR) can obliterate such radical cavities. The main objective of this study was to compare postoperative results after CWDTwR by using either bone allografts or 45S5 bioactive glass as a filling tissue with an 18-month follow-up. This was a single-center observational trial including all patients undergoing CWDTwR. Patients were divided into two groups according to the filling material used: allograft bone (AB group) or 45S5 bioactive glass (BG group). Clinical monitoring was performed regularly, with control imaging performed at 18 months (CT scan and DW MRI). The two groups were compared with the t test for quantitative variables and the chi square test for qualitative variables (no revision surgery, audiometric results, complications, mastoid obliteration volume). Thirty-two patients underwent CWDTwR between October 2015 and 2018. The mean age was 48 years, and 71.9% (23/32) were men. A total of 46.9% (15/32) of the patients had undergone at least 3 middle-ear surgeries prior to CWDTwR. The most frequent preoperative symptom was otorrhea (100.0%, 32/32), and only 12.5% (4/32) experienced dizziness. Fifteen and 17 patients underwent surgery with bone allografts and 45S5 bioactive glass, respectively. At 18 months post-operation, 53.3% of the patients (8/15) in the AB group presented with recurrent otorrhea versus 5.9% (1/17) of patients in the BG group (p = 0.005). Seventy-eight percent (7/9) of symptomatic patients had undergone revision surgery at 18 months postoperation: 40.0% (6/15) in the AB group and 5.9% (1/17) in the BG group (p = 0.033). One patient's surgery was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one patient refused surgery. The effects of CWDTwR with bone allografts are disappointing in early follow-up, with significant resorption leading to a 40.0% revision surgery rate. 45S5 BG is a simple solution, with preliminary results that are superior to those of AB. However, prospective controlled studies with longer follow-up times are needed to evaluate the value of BG versus other synthetic materials (such as hydroxyapatite) in surgical management of CWDTwR.Trial registration: retrospectively registered.

[Partial sequestration of the labyrinth in a child with chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma]. / Chastichnaya sekvestratsiya labirinta u rebenka s khronicheskim gnoinym srednim otitom s kholesteatomoi.

A clinical case of a 16-year-old child with chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma complicated by partial labyrinth sequestration is presented. The case describes is a rare disorder. Computed tomography of temporal bones consistent with intraoperative data was decisive in establishing the diagnosis and the surgery extent.

Colesteatoma congénito: revisión de la literatura / Congenital cholesteatoma: literature review

El colesteatoma congénito es una entidad clínica única y desafiante, que se caracteriza por acumulación anormal de queratina en el oído medio, medial a la membrana timpánica. Se presenta, mayoritariamente, en el género masculino, con una incidencia estimada de 0.12 por 100.000 habitantes, representando el 4% a 24% de los colesteatomas en población pediátrica y un 2% a 5% del total de colesteatomas. Su origen aún es controversial, siendo la teoría más aceptada, la del arresto epitelial. Su diagnóstico es clínico, variando la sintomatología según severidad del compromiso, presentándose desde hallazgo incidental, hipoacusia de conducción, hasta presentar otalgia y perforación timpánica. Las imágenes se consideran un apoyo complementario preoperatorio. El tratamiento es quirúrgico, con diferentes técnicas disponibles, las cuales se deben definir de manera individual en el caso de cada paciente. Es fundamental su diagnóstico y manejo precoz, para lograr un tratamiento oportuno con menor tasa de complicaciones y compromiso a largo plazo. A continuación, se presenta una revisión de la literatura respecto de esta patología, para difusión en nuestro medio.

Congenital cholesteatoma (CC) is a unique and challenging clinical entity characterized by abnormal accumulation of keratin in the middle ear, medial to the tympanic membrane, being more frequent in the male gender, with an estimated incidence of 0.12 per 100,000 inhabitants. It represents 4% to 24% of cholesteatomas in the pediatric population and 2% to 5% of all cholesteatomas. Its cause is still controversial, the most accepted theory being epithelial arrest. The diagnosis is clinical, varying the symptoms according to the severity of the compromise, from incidental finding, through conduction hearing loss, to presenting otalgia and tympanic perforation. Images are considered additional preoperative support. Treatment is predominantly surgical, with different techniques available, which must be defined individually. Its early discovery and management are essential to achieve proper treatment with a lower rate of complications and long-term commitment. We present a review of the literature regarding CC to provide information relevant to our area of expertise.

Is pre-operative audiometry a reliable predictor of ossicular chain condition?

OBJECTIVE: Investigation of ossicular chain (OC) status before surgery is important for preoperative patient consultation. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-operative audiometric values and intra-operative OC condition in a relatively large population of chronic otitis media (COM) surgeries. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, we evaluated 694 patients who underwent COM surgeries. We analyzed pre-operative audiometric data and intraoperative findings including ossicular anatomy, ossicular mobility, and the condition of middle ear mucosa. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off values of pre-operative speech reception threshold (SRT), mean air-conduction (AC), and mean air-bone gap (ABG) for predicting OC discontinuity were 37.5 dB, 37.2 dB, and 28.4 dB, respectively. For the prediction of OC fixation, the optimal cut-off points of SRT, mean AC, and mean ABG were 37.5 dB, 40.3 dB, and 32.8 dB, respectively. The computing of Cohen's d (95 % confidence interval) demonstrated the greater mean ABG in ears with OC discontinuity in comparison with ears with normal ossicles in all types of pathologies. There was a descending trend of Cohen's d from cholesteatoma to tympanosclerosis and then to granulation tissue and hypertrophic mucosa. There was a substantial relation between the type of pathology and OC status (P < 0.001). Ears with tympanosclerosis plaque had the most fixed OC among all types of pathologies (40 ears, 30.8 %), and ears with no pathology had the most normal OC (135 ears, 83.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: The results supported the view that pre-operative hearing is a key determining factor for the prediction of OC status.

[Anatomical factors of temporal bone residual cholesteatoma: our experience]. / Osobennosti stroeniya visochnoi kosti kak faktor retsidiva kholesteatomy: nash opyt.

The article describes clinical cases of invasive cholesteatoma of the temporal bone pyramid, leading to a massive destruction of the surrounding structures. Paying attention to the importance of knowing the microsurgical anatomy of critical structures of temporal bone (the anterior bony plate (cog), the tensor tympani fold and the tendon, the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, the pretympanic recess, tympanic sinuses) bearing a significance and helping to improve the removal of the invasive cholesteatoma.

Congenital cholesteatoma clinical and surgical management.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital cholesteatoma (CC) is accompanied by hearing loss and an intact tympanic membrane. However, the hearing loss is usually associated with otitis media, and the diagnosis of CC is frequently delayed in patients with an intact tympanic membrane. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with CC. METHODS: We reviewed patients with cholesteatoma from January 2011 to May 2020 and selected those meeting the congenital cholesteatoma criteria. The primary outcome measures included presenting symptoms, surgical findings, stage of disease, recurrence rate and hearing outcomes. RESULTS: We reviewed 1646 medical files of cholesteatoma patients and identified 18 patients with congenital cholesteatoma, the mean age at operation was 8.13 ± 1.36 years (range 3-18). The unilateral hearing loss included moderate 13 patients (72.2%), severe 4 patients (22.2%), and slight 1 (5.6%). There were 14 cases of conductive hearing loss (77.8%) and 4 cases of mixed hearing loss (22.2%). The mean course of disease was 1.41 ± 0.05 years (range 0.4-3). The surgical management was oto-endoscope exploratory tympanotomy in 1（5.6%）, canal wall up mastoidectomy in 12 (66.7%) and canal wall down in 5 (27.8%), with 17 (94.4%) ossicular replacements. Seventeen (94.4%) patients presented with Potsic stage III-IV. Recurrence occurred in 5.6% of patients in stage III and 11.1% of patients in stage IV. After surgery, patients achieved normal voice tone hearing. CONCLUSIONS: To diagnose it early, congenital cholesteatoma should be considered as a possible aetiology for hearing loss patients with an intact tympanic membrane. In our study, most patients were diagnosed at III and IV stage. This highlights the need to promote awareness of the disease among primary physicians in the community healthcare system. Surgical management with removal of the cholesteatoma and reconstruction of the tympanum and ossicular chain is an effective treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment of congenital stenosis of external auditory canal with external auditory canal cholesteatoma complicated with exudative effusion in the middle ear and mastoid process.

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing for surgery to promote postoperative recovery in children with congenital stenosis of the external auditory canal with external auditory canal cholesteatoma, who are susceptible to exudative inflammation of middle ear and mastoid process, is still uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the treatment of congenital stenosis of external auditory canal with external auditory canal cholesteatoma complicated with exudative inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 45 patients with congenital stenosis of external auditory canal with external auditory canal cholesteatoma complicated with mastoiditis. Based on whether effusion had resolved at the time of surgery, the patients were divided into two groups. Pure-tone audiometry tests were performed before and after surgery for both groups. RESULTS: The average postoperative duration of dry ear was 36.38 days in Group 1 and 47.90 days in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Among patients who underwent hearing reconstruction, the average air conduction threshold decreased by 15-36 dBHL in Group 1 and by 7-22 dBHL in Group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The postoperative outcomes of dry ear and hearing improvement can be enhanced by performing operation after effusion resolution in cases of congenital external auditory canal stenosis with external auditory canal cholesteatoma exudative inflammation.

[Mastoid obliteration during last 5 years]. / Mastoidoplastika: tendentsii poslednikh 5 let.

The article presents modern approaches to mastoid obliteration in cases of chronic purulent otitis media with cholesteatoma, published in peer-reviewed russian and foreign journals from 2017 to 2021. The review tells us about effect of mastoid cavity obliteration on reducing the recurrence of cholesteatoma, improving the quality of life of patients according to the results of international questionnaires and the effect of surgery on hearing in the long-term postoperative period. An analysis of the use of autologous and biocompatible materials in middle ear surgery is presented. Their safety and ease of use during surgical intervention were evaluated.

Congenital cholesteatoma in identical twins.

Congenital cholesteatoma in identical twins has only been described once in Otolaryngology literature thus far. This report describes a case of monozygotic twins with a history of recurrent acute otitis media and bilateral middle ear effusions without tympanic membrane perforation. Upon myringotomy with pressure equalization tube insertion, both were found to have right-sided cholesteatoma with nearly identical location and pattern of progression. In the context of previous case series demonstrating familial clustering and reports of possible genetic associations of this condition, the authors present an important addition to the current understanding of congenital cholesteatoma disorder.

[Case of diagnosis and surgical treatment of intracranial cholesteatoma]. / Sluchai diagnostiki i khirurgicheskogo lecheniya intrakranial'noi kholesteatomy.

The article provides a brief overview of the epidemiology of congenital and acquired intracranial cholesteatoma, the theory of its pathogenesis, classification, and clinical features. The most common localization of congenital and acquired intracranial cholesteatoma is described and various surgical approaches are presented that allow total removal of the formation. A clinical case of diagnosis and surgical treatment of acquired intracranial cholesteatoma caused by chronic suppurative otitis media is presented. A clinical example indicates the possibility of a long asymptomatic course of acquired intracranial cholesteatoma. The use of a combined (extradural subtemporal and transmastoid) surgical approach made it possible to completely remove the acquired cholesteatoma of the temporal lobe of the brain in a patient with chronic suppurative otitis media.

Middle ear cholesteatoma prevalence in over 3,600 children with Turner Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of middle ear cholesteatoma in children with Turner syndrome (TS) as compared to the general population using a large database. METHODS: The TriNetx Analytics Network, a federated health research network that aggregates the de-identified electronic health record data of over 78 million patients across the United States, was queried for patients 18 years old or younger with TS. Patients in this group with any occurrence of a diagnosed middle ear cholesteatoma were recorded and reported. RESULTS: Out of 3,682 children 18 years old or younger with diagnosed TS, 1.47% (95% CI: 1.10%-1.91%) had a history of middle ear cholesteatoma. Out of 12,836,624 children 18 years or younger without TS, 0.09% (95% CI: 0.09%-0.09%) had a history of diagnosed middle ear cholesteatoma. The relative risk for middle ear cholesteatoma in children with TS was 16.74 (95% CI: 12.84-21.83). The relative risk for diagnosed cleft palate among children with TS was 8.56 (95% CI: 6.67-10.98) which, because of the Eustachian tube dysfunction in this population, may contribute to the cholesteatoma risk. CONCLUSION: The rate of diagnosed middle ear cholesteatoma was found to be 16 times higher in patients with Turner syndrome versus children without Turner syndrome. Of studies examining middle ear cholesteatoma in children with TS, the present study has the largest sample size thus providing reliable evidence for prevalence in this population. Clinical monitoring for cholesteatoma should be especially rigorous and frequent in this population.

Comparison of the EAONO/JOS, STAMCO and ChOLE cholesteatoma staging systems in the prognostic evaluation of acquired middle ear cholesteatoma in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the EAONO/JOS, STAMCO, and ChOLE Cholesteatoma Staging Systems in prognostic evaluation of children acquired middle ear cholesteatoma after primary surgery and identify the other factors that could predict cholesteatoma recidivism. And the correlation between the staging and the recidivism of cholesteatoma after grouping according to operation was evaluated. METHODS: A total of 123 ears of 118 patients that underwent surgery for primary cholesteatoma from November 2008 to May 2020 were included in this retrospective study, and then classified and staged according to the EAONO/JOS, STAMCO, and ChOLE cholesteatoma staging system, respectively. Each indicator involved in the system above was analyzed separately to evaluate its prognostic value for cholesteatoma recidivism. RESULTS: The type of surgical procedure performed (P = 0.020) was shown to be associated with cholesteatoma recidivism. Cholesteatoma location the supratubal recess (S1) (P = 0.026, HR = 3.614, 95% CI 1.137, 7.945), and the sinus tympani (S2) (P = 0.004, HR = 4.208, 95% CI 1.574, 11.250) were shown to be significantly associated with disease recidivism. When focusing on the CWU operation group, ossicular chain status in STAMCO stage (P = 0.043) and in the ChOLE stage (P = 0.018) were significantly associated with cholesteatoma recidivism. The results had shown no association between the three stages and cholesteatoma recidivism in the CWD and endoscopic surgery groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our study, the EAONO/JOS, STAMCO, and ChOLE Classifications have limited value in predicting cholesteatoma recidivism, in acquired middle ear cholesteatoma in children. Adding the pathological status of the ossicular chain may be useful for predicting the recidivism of cholesteatoma. Additional validation studies are entailed to definitively assess the clinical utility of these classifications.

[Characteristics and differential diagnosis of middle ear cholesteatoma and chronic suppurative otitis media with wideband acoustic immittance].

Objective:Through analysis of the sound energy absorbance of wideband acoustic immittance to provide a basis for differential diagnosis of adult acquired secondary cholesteatoma of the middle ear and patients with chronic suppurative otitis media（CSOM）. Methods:38 cases of cholesteatoma and 40 cases of CSOM admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from September 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the research group, and 30 cases （60 ears） of normal adults were selected as the control group. A total of 16 frequency points were selected, and the energy absorbance of wideband acoustic immittance was taken as the research parameter. The characteristics of energy absorbance under ambient pressure among the three are compared. Then the ROC in the cholesteatoma group was drawn, and by calculating the AUC, the Cut-off values and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were found. Results:The energy absorbance in CSOM group at 1100-5700 Hz and the cholesteatoma group at 560-5700 Hz was lower than that in the control group, and the difference in some frequency bands was statistically significant. The energy absorbance in the cholesteatoma group at 226-7100 Hz was lower than that in the CSOM group, and the difference between the two groups in many frequency points was statistically significant. The ROC in the research group was drawn and it was found that the AUC in the 560, 710, 890, and 4500 bands was > 0.5, and in the other bands was > 0.7（P<0.05）. The AUC in the 2800 Hz was the largest （0.78）, the Cut-off value was 0.31, the corresponding sensitivity was 78.38%, specificity was 73.33%. Conclusion:Wideband acoustic immittance can be used as an auxiliary method for the differential diagnosis of adult-acquired secondary cholesteatoma of the middle ear and chronic suppurative otitis media in adults.

Congenital cholesteatoma: Clinical features and surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: A typical presentation of congenital cholesteatoma (CC) is asymmetric conductive hearing loss (CHL). As CHL is usually associated with middle ear effusion, diagnosis of CC is frequently delayed. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of children with CC. METHODS: The medical files of children diagnosed with CC at a large tertiary pediatric medical center during 2000-2019 were reviewed. The primary outcome measures were: presenting symptoms, surgical findings, stage of disease, recurrence rate and hearing outcome. Imaging findings and the size of mastoid air cells were assessed in CT scans. RESULTS: Thirty-nine children were diagnosed with CC. The presenting symptom was unilateral CHL in 85%, with an average speech reception threshold of 41.5 ± 13.7 dB in the affected ear. The mean time from first symptoms to diagnosis was 1.3 years. The surgical approach was exploratory tympanotomy in 25% and canal wall up mastoidectomy in 69%. Seventy percent of the children presented with Potsic stage III-IV. The mean postoperative speech reception threshold was 26.4 ± 12.2 dB (P = 0.002). Recurrence of cholesteatoma occurred in 38% of the patients, mostly in stage III-IV. Mastoid air cell size was significantly smaller on the affected than the unaffected side. CONCLUSIONS: In children with persistent unilateral or asymmetric conductive hearing loss, CC should be suspected. Late diagnosis of CC is associated with a high recurrence rate. This highlights the need to promote awareness to the disease among primary physicians in the community health care system.

Comparison of endoscopic and microscopic management of attic cholesteatoma: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Attic cholesteatoma is a common disease encountered by otologists. OBJECTIVES: To compare the endoscopic approach to attic cholesteatoma with conventional microscopic technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 190 patients (192 ears) diagnosed with attic cholesteatoma extending to the antrum area (stages Ib and II) were randomly assigned into two groups undergoing endoscopic approach and the other microscopic technique. The outcomes were preoperative and intraoperative findings, access to hidden areas expressed in MESVI, mean operative time from first incision to ear-packing, and postoperative findings. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 24.0, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The median Middle Ear Structural Visibility Index of the endoscopic group was better than the microscopic group (P < 0.05). The mean operating time by the endoscopic approach was less than the microscopic approach (P < 0.05). The median postoperative pain score in the endoscopic group was lower than the microscopic group (P < 0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in taste, hearing, vertigo, healing time and long term outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Endoscopic management of limited attic cholesteatoma showed definite advantages over the conventional microscopic approach, such as providing better visualization, requiring less postoperative time, subjecting the patients to less pain, and decreasing the incidence of complications.

Congenital Mastoid Cholesteatoma.

BACKGROUND: Congenital cholesteatomas account for just up to 5% of all cholesteatomas and most commonly arise in the petrous apex and middle ear. Congenital cholesteatomas arising in the mastoid are rare and typically present late. METHODS: In this study, we report a case series of 3 cases managed in our department between 2006 and 2021 and present a summary of the current literature. RESULTS: Congenital cholesteatomas arising in the mastoid is a rare finding and even among reported cases, not all are clearly mastoid in origin. Their location allows for considerable growth before symptoms develop. Pain and localized swelling in the temporal area are the most common presenting symptoms which can lead to diagnostic challenges. Our cases show that although surgery is often appropriate, conservative manage- ment may be suitable in certain situations. CONCLUSION: Congenital cholesteatoma of mastoid origin is rare and can present a diagnostic challenge. Greater awareness is important to facilitate early detection. A high index of suspicion is needed in those presenting with retro-auricular pain and swelling in the context of a normal ontological examination.

Application of artificial intelligence using a convolutional neural network for detecting cholesteatoma in endoscopic enhanced images.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether artificial intelligence (AI) used with the novel digital image enhancement system modalities (CLARA+CHROMA, SPECTRA A, and SPECTRA B) could distinguish the cholesteatoma matrix, cholesteatoma debris, and normal middle ear mucosa, and observe the middle ear cavity during middle ear cholesteatoma surgery. METHODS: A convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained with a set of images chosen by an otologist. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the constructed CNN, an independent test data set of middle ear images was collected from 14 consecutive patients with 26 cholesteatoma matrix lesions, who underwent transcanal endoscopic ear surgery at a single hospital from August 2018 to September 2019. The final test data set included 58 total images, with 1‒5 images from each modality for each case. RESULTS: The CNN required only 10 s to analyze more than 58 test images. Using SPECTRA A and SPECTRA B, the CNN correctly diagnosed 15 and 15 of 26 cholesteatoma matrix lesions, with a sensitivity of 34.6% and 42.3%, and with a specificity of 81.3% and 87.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study revealed that AI and novel imaging modalities are potentially useful tools for identifying and visualizing the cholesteatoma matrix during endoscopic ear surgery. The diagnostic ability of the CNN is not yet appropriate for implementation in daily clinical practice, based on our study findings. However, in the future, these techniques and AI tools could help to reduce the burden on surgeons and will facilitate telemedicine in remote and rural areas, as well as in developing countries where the number of surgeons is limited.

[Functional results of surgical treatment of patients with various types of acquired cholesteatoma]. / Funktsional'nye rezul'taty khirurgicheskogo lecheniya patsientov s razlichnymi tipami priobretennoi kholesteatomy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term functional results of surgical treatment of patients with acquired cholesteatoma, their dependence on the age of patients, the type of cholesteatoma and the type of surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The article presents the results of a dynamic comparison of the functional results of surgical treatment of 332 adults and 104 children with various forms of acquired middle ear cholesteatoma who underwent both closed and open surgical procedures. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in hearing function into two age's groups depending on the type of cholesteatoma acquired. Average air conduction in adult patients for all types of cholesteatoma were ranked within 34.55-44.19 dB, air-bone gaps - 24.14-31.12 dB; in children - 33.72-39.16 dB and 27.33-34.95 dB, respectively. The exception was a group of adult patients with secondary cholesteatoma of the pars tensa. In the postoperative period, in patients of both age groups with all types of cholesteatoma, an improvement in the average values of air conduction by 18-20 dB and a decrease in the average values of the air-bone thresholds by 17-21 dB were noted. Analysis of the results of open surgical interventions showed a somewhat worse functional efficiency on 5-9 dB for air conduction average and 18-20 dB for air-bone gaps, both for adults and children. The stability of the achieved level of auditory function at all stages of postoperative observation was also noted. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of children and adult with all types of acquired cholesteatoma can improve hearing function and achieve stable results when using closed or open types of operations.