Determinants influencing cholesteatoma recurrence in daily practice: a retrospective analysis

Abstract Background Cholesteatoma is a benign but destructive epithelial lesion in the middle ear and/or mastoid. It is hard to translate data from previous research to daily clinical practice. In this study, factors influencing recurrence rates in daily clinical practice were identified. Method The study included 67 patients who were treated for a cholesteatoma with combined approach tympanoplasty. The average follow-up time was 35 months. Results The recurrence rate was 23.3 per cent in adults and 45.5 per cent in children. Predictors of recurrence were younger age and a low tegmen. A cholesteatoma in a child and the simultaneous presence of a low tegmen led to recurrence in 82.8 per cent of the patients. Conclusion Patients – especially children – with a low tegmen have an increased risk of recurrence. It is recommended that ENT surgeons be aware of recurrence in children, particularly in the case of a low tegmen.