Congenital cholesteatoma of the infratemporal fossa.

OBJECTIVE

We report an extremely rare case of congenital cholesteatoma of the infratemporal fossa.

METHOD: The clinical, radiological and intra-operative findings of the patient are presented.

RESULTS

A five-year-old girl presented to our hospital with symptoms in the left ear consistent with middle-ear effusion. A congenital cholesteatoma was not suspected until an enlarging mass in the anteroinferior quadrant of the tympanic membrane was observed. Radiological studies revealed that the mass was located largely in the infratemporal fossa, with limited extension into the tympanic cavity. The patient underwent surgical treatment, which confirmed the clinical and radiological findings.

CONCLUSION

This patient's clinical, radiological and intra-operative findings strongly suggested the infratemporal fossa as the site of origin of her congenital cholesteatoma.