[Congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear].

The AA. inform about 8 patients suffering from congenital cholesteatoma of the tympanomastoidal cleft. They underline the difficulties for achieving a correct diagnosis when the eardrum remains intact and remark the need to keep in mind this process for differential diagnosis of the conductive hypoacusis in childhood. As a matter of fact the AA. emphasize the few cases of recurrences after surgery, in contrast with that of relapses in child's acquired cholesteatoma.