Late recurrence of a frontal sinus cholesteatoma.

The longest recorded recurrence of a frontal sinus cholesteatoma with involvement of the orbit, frontal bone, and floor of the anterior cranial fossa is presented. Radical surgery is required and often craniotomy is necessary. Bony reconstruction of defects should not be undertaken until recurrence has not been present for at least a year. A review of the literature and a discussion of the origin of cholesteatomas is given.