[The misdiagnosis of congenital cholesteatoma of the temporal bone (5 case report)].

OBJECTIVE

The congenital cholesteatoma of the temporal bone is a rarer disease which might easily be misdiagnosed and wrongly treated. The clinical material and management of five cases are hereby introduced in order to call common attention.

METHOD: There were 4 males and 1 female with age rage 10-48 years old. All cases revealed intact drum membrane. The complaints of these 5 cases are: 2 cases suffered from facial palsy; 2 cases from purulent bloody otorrhea; 1 case from otalgia. Among these five congenital cholesteatomas, four cases were originated from petromastoid region and 1 case from undeveloped. external ear canal. Surgical managements were performed after preoperative radiological examination in these five cases.

RESULT: In each case, the diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination and the disease was cured by operation.

CONCLUSION

If a patient is suffered from facial palsy or otorrhea or otalgia, but the eardrum is intact, the correct diagnosis and suitable treatment of the congenital cholesteatoma are easily to be delayed and failed. Radiological evaluation, carefully topical examination and paying attention to this disease play important role in the early diagnosis and surgical management, thus the serious complications might be avoided.