Intracranial cholesteatoma: a case report and review.

A cholesteatoma can be a complication of ear infection, eustachian tube dysfunction, prior ear surgery, or tympanic membrane perforation. It is typically associated with otorrhea and conductive hearing loss; sensorineural hearing loss, dysequilibrium, facial nerve paralysis, and altered mental status signify advanced disease. The treatment is surgical and recurrences are common. A case of cholesteatoma is presented that was associated with extension into the posterior fossa and presented with only a headache and localized pain.