CHOLESTEATOMA IN CHILDREN

Cholesteatoma refers to the presence of keratinizing squamous epitheli um in the middle ear, mastoid, or petrous bone. This histologically be nign lesion can erode bone, causing hearing loss, disequilibrium, faci al nerve palsy, venous thrombosis, and intracranial infection. There a re two main types of cholesteatoma: congenital and acquired. Cholestea toma in children can pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for th e clinician. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic ev aluation, and management of children with these lesions are discussed.