THE NATURE OF THE EPITHELIUM IN ACQUIRED CHOLESTEATOMA .3. CYTOKERATIN PATTERNS IN AURAL EPITHELIAL AND CHOLESTEATOMA CELLS GROWN IN CELL-CULTURE

The nature and origin of the epithelial layers in acquired cholesteato ma is still unclear. Although previous morphological studies comparing external meatal and cholesteatoma epithelium have shown no significan t difference, bone resorption is generally much more severe with chole steatoma than with chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma. It is p ossible that cholesteatoma epithelium has undergone transformation lea ding to its enhanced bone destroying role. In this study the cytokerat in patterns of aural and cholesteatoma epithelia grown in cell culture were compared using monoclonal antibodies. No significant difference in staining patterns were found suggesting that there has been no chan ge in cell phenotype which maintains that of external auditory meatus epithelium. This study therefore supports the immigration theory of ch olesteatoma genesis.