Classification and staging of cholesteatoma

No staging system for cholesteatoma has been universally adopted. All previ ous attempts failed to gain acceptance because of the lack of clinical rele vance. We have devised a simple system to stage cholesteatoma which is base d on the extent of lesion, ossicular condition and the preoperative complic ations. To illustrate the systems potential value, data from 119 new patien ts with cholesteatoma are presented and classified according to our propose d scheme. This shows a relationship between the stage of disease, ossicular damage and the occurrence of complications. The proposed staging system is potentially useful when considering the type of surgery required and when comparing published data reporting the results of tympanomastoid surgery.