What can be mistaken for cholesteatoma?

What can be mistaken for cholesteatoma?

The white debris associated with chronic otitis can be mistaken for a cholesteatoma, as can the white calcium particles contained within the tympanic membrane scarring of tympanosclerosis.

Can cholesteatoma be misdiagnosed?

The presence of glue explains the non-enhancement of the material in the middle ear. On standard MRI sequences as well as on CT – even enhanced – this lesion can easily be misdiagnosed as a cholesteatoma due to the lack of enhancement.

What is the best management of cholesteatoma?

Although surgery is rarely urgent, once a cholesteatoma is found, surgical treatment is the only choice. Surgery usually involves a mastoidectomy to remove the disease from the bone, and tympanoplasty to repair the eardrum.

What type of hearing loss is cholesteatoma?

Typically, cholesteatomata patients suffer from conductive hearing loss, i.e., a hearing disorder that only affects the outer ear. If the cholesteatoma is so far advanced that the inner ear is already affected, a so-called sensorineural hearing loss is present.

How do you test for cholesteatoma?

To determine whether you have a cholesteatoma, your doctor will examine the inside of your ear using an otoscope. This medical device allows your doctor to see if there are signs of a growing cyst. Specifically, they will look for a visible deposit of skin cells or a large mass of blood vessels in the ear.

What are symptoms of cholesteatoma?

What are the signs and symptoms of cholesteatoma?

  • A full feeling or pressure in the ear.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Dizziness.
  • Pain.
  • Numbness or muscle weakness on one side of the face.

What does a cholesteatoma feel like?

Initially, the affected ear may drain a foul-smelling fluid. As the cyst grows, it will begin to create a sense of pressure in your ear, which may cause some discomfort. You might also feel an aching pain in or behind your ear. The pressure of the growing cyst may even cause hearing loss in the affected ear.

Can a doctor see a cholesteatoma?

A cholesteatoma is detected only by examining the ear and finding the disease. However, the physician may suspect the disease when some or all of the following are present: Gradual loss of hearing.