Condition of the anterior part of the middle ear cleft in acquired cholesteatoma

CONCLUSION: The high rate of flogistic suffering of the controlateral ear seems to suggest a correlation between tubal dysfunction and acquired cholesteatoma but the low rate of pathological reports regarding the anterior mesotympanic region exclude a eustachian tube dysfunction (EDT) at the time of surgery. These observations support the hypothesis that ETD is not a factor that may influence the evolution of the cholesteatoma. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of eustachian tube function in the middle ear secondary acquired cholesteatoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a case series study. The study group consisted of 72 patients submitted to tympanoplasty for middle ear secondary acquired cholesteatoma. RESULTS: The contralateral ear was normal in 37 subjects (51%) and affected by chronic otitis media in 35 (49%); the anterior part of middle ear cleft was normal in 53 patients (74%). There was no significant relationship between the contralateral ear condition and the status of the anterior region of middle ear (p>0.05). The site of retraction or the presence of tympanic perforation with skin migration was not related to the condition of the protympanum. Otorrhea, cholesteatoma extension, and ossicular chain lesions were not significantly related to the status of the anterior part of the middle ear cleft (p>0.05)