Preoperative ear Histories in Children with Aquired Cholesteatoma

Abstract

In 1970–79 fifty-nine children with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma were operated in the ENT-Clinic of Turku University Hospital. In 22 (37 %) of these children secretory otitis media preceded the diagnosis of cholesteatoma. The amount of attic and posteriosuperior perforations in these ears was quite similar in both halfs of the decade, but during 1970–74 there were significantly more central pars tensa perforations than in ears operated in 1975–79. Increased activity in the treatment of secretory or recurrent otitis media with tympanostomy did not significantly affect the incidence of extensive cholesteatomas in children during the last ten years.