Cholesteatoma in children

Cholesteatoma in children is generally considered to be more aggressive and destructive than in adults. Each otologic surgeon has experienced widely e xtended cholesteatomas in children with large pneumatized mastoid processes . In this payer, we want to present clinical and experimental observations which imply that the destructive potential in children is similar to that i n adults. Factors and observations that have led to the assumption that cho lesteatoma in children is more aggressive will be discussed. Based on our e xperience and the literature, we tried to distill the current and leading t houghts concerning this intriguing entity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd. All rights reserved.