BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCholesteatomaChronic ear infection - cholesteatoma; Chronic otitis media - cholesteatomaCholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst that is located in the middle ear and mastoid bone in the skull.CystA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cholesteatoma can be a birth defect (congenital). It more commonly occurs as a result of chronic ear infection.Chronic ear infectionChronic ear infection is fluid, swelling, or an infection behind the eardrum that does not go away or keeps coming back. It causes long-term or perm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The eustachian tube helps equalize pressure in the middle ear. When it is not working well, negative pressure can build up and pull part of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) inward. This creates a pocket or cyst that fills with old skin cells and other waste material. The cyst may become infected or get bigger. This can cause the breakdown of some of the middle ear bones or other structures of the ear. This can affect hearing, balance, and possibly the function of the facial muscles. Symptoms Symptoms include:Dizziness DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Drainage from the ear, which can be chronic Drainage from the earEar discharge is drainage of blood, ear wax, pus, or fluid from the ear.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hearing loss in one ear Hearing lossHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sensation of ear fullness or pressure Exams and Tests An ear exam may show a pocket or opening (perforation) in the eardrum, often with drainage. A deposit of old skin cells may be seen with a microscope or an otoscope, which is a special instrument to view the ear. Sometimes a group of blood vessels may be seen in the ear.The following tests may be performed to rule out other causes of dizziness:CT scan ElectronystagmographyElectronystagmographyElectronystagmography is a test that looks at eye movements to see how well nerves in the brain are working. These nerves are:Vestibular nerve (eigh...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Cholesteatomas very often continue to grow if they are not removed. Surgery is most often successful. However, you may need the ear cleaned by a health care provider from time to time. Another surgery may be needed if the cholesteatoma comes back. Possible Complications Complications may include:Brain abscess (rare) Brain abscessA brain abscess is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Erosion into the facial nerve (causing facial paralysis) ErosionErosion is a breakdown of the outer layers of the skin, usually because of a: CutScrapeInflammationImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Facial paralysisFacial paralysis means that a person is no longer able to move some or all of the muscles on one or both sides of the face.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Meningitis MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spread of the cyst into the brain Hearing loss When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if ear pain, drainage from the ear, or other symptoms occur or worsen, or if hearing loss occurs. Prevention Prompt and thorough treatment of chronic ear infection may help prevent cholesteatoma.Open ReferencesReferencesKerschner JE, Preciado D. Otitis media. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 658.Thompson LDR. Tumors of the ear. In: Fletcher CDM, ed. Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumors. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 30.AllVideoImagesTogTympanic membrane - illustration The tympanic membrane is also called the eardrum. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear. When sound waves reach the tympanic membrane they cause it to vibrate. The vibrations are then transferred to the tiny bones in the middle ear. The middle ear bones then transfer the vibrating signals to the inner ear. The tympanic membrane is made up of a thin connective tissue membrane covered by skin on the outside and mucosa on the internal surface. Tympanic membraneillustrationTympanic membrane - illustration The tympanic membrane is also called the eardrum. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear. When sound waves reach the tympanic membrane they cause it to vibrate. The vibrations are then transferred to the tiny bones in the middle ear. The middle ear bones then transfer the vibrating signals to the inner ear. The tympanic membrane is made up of a thin connective tissue membrane covered by skin on the outside and mucosa on the internal surface. Tympanic membraneillustrationRelated Information Cyst(Symptoms)Ear infection - chronic(Condition)Chronic(Special Topic)Erosion(Symptoms)Facial paralysis(Symptoms)Labyrinthitis(Condition)Meningitis(Condition)Brain abscess(Condition)Ear infections - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/30/2022 Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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CholesteatomaChronic ear infection - cholesteatoma; Chronic otitis media - cholesteatomaCholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst that is located in the middle ear and mastoid bone in the skull.CystA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cholesteatoma can be a birth defect (congenital). It more commonly occurs as a result of chronic ear infection.Chronic ear infectionChronic ear infection is fluid, swelling, or an infection behind the eardrum that does not go away or keeps coming back. It causes long-term or perm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The eustachian tube helps equalize pressure in the middle ear. When it is not working well, negative pressure can build up and pull part of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) inward. This creates a pocket or cyst that fills with old skin cells and other waste material. The cyst may become infected or get bigger. This can cause the breakdown of some of the middle ear bones or other structures of the ear. This can affect hearing, balance, and possibly the function of the facial muscles. Symptoms Symptoms include:Dizziness DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Drainage from the ear, which can be chronic Drainage from the earEar discharge is drainage of blood, ear wax, pus, or fluid from the ear.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hearing loss in one ear Hearing lossHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sensation of ear fullness or pressure Exams and Tests An ear exam may show a pocket or opening (perforation) in the eardrum, often with drainage. A deposit of old skin cells may be seen with a microscope or an otoscope, which is a special instrument to view the ear. Sometimes a group of blood vessels may be seen in the ear.The following tests may be performed to rule out other causes of dizziness:CT scan ElectronystagmographyElectronystagmographyElectronystagmography is a test that looks at eye movements to see how well nerves in the brain are working. These nerves are:Vestibular nerve (eigh...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Cholesteatomas very often continue to grow if they are not removed. Surgery is most often successful. However, you may need the ear cleaned by a health care provider from time to time. Another surgery may be needed if the cholesteatoma comes back. Possible Complications Complications may include:Brain abscess (rare) Brain abscessA brain abscess is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Erosion into the facial nerve (causing facial paralysis) ErosionErosion is a breakdown of the outer layers of the skin, usually because of a: CutScrapeInflammationImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Facial paralysisFacial paralysis means that a person is no longer able to move some or all of the muscles on one or both sides of the face.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Meningitis MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spread of the cyst into the brain Hearing loss When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if ear pain, drainage from the ear, or other symptoms occur or worsen, or if hearing loss occurs. Prevention Prompt and thorough treatment of chronic ear infection may help prevent cholesteatoma.Open ReferencesReferencesKerschner JE, Preciado D. Otitis media. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 658.Thompson LDR. Tumors of the ear. In: Fletcher CDM, ed. Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumors. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 30.