Patients

Cholesteatoma

A cholesteatoma is a non-cancerous but growing patch of skin tissue in the middle ear. It forms when skin cells end up where they should not be, usually through a damaged eardrum. Over time it grows and can damage nearby structures: the small hearing bones, the ear bone itself, and in rare cases even the facial nerve.

Why it matters

A cholesteatoma does not go away on its own. Left untreated, it can cause permanent hearing loss, a chronic infection with discharge, dizziness, and in rare cases more serious complications if it reaches the inner ear or the lining around the brain.

How to recognise it

The most common signs are persistent or recurring foul-smelling discharge from the ear and gradually worsening hearing, sometimes with a feeling of pressure in the ear. Symptoms develop slowly, which is why people often put off seeing a doctor.

How it is treated

The only effective treatment is surgical removal. How extensive the surgery needs to be depends on how far the condition has progressed. Modern endoscopic surgery often allows more precise operating with less damage to healthy tissue.