{"id":198,"date":"2020-09-15T16:57:32","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T20:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carolinapinesent.fm1.dev\/ear-overview\/cholesteatoma\/"},"modified":"2021-09-30T18:37:54","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T22:37:54","slug":"cholesteatoma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/ent\/cholesteatoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Cholesteatoma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a Cholesteatoma?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A cholesteatoma sometimes referred to as a benign ear cyst is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum that may also affect the mastoid (skull bone). It begins as a cyst that gradually increases in size,\u00a0destroying the bones of the middle ear and causing <a href=\"https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/hearing\/hearing-loss-testing\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"202\">hearing loss<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes Cholesteatoma?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When the Eustachian tube is functioning normally, it equalizes air pressure across the ear drum by moving air from the back of the nose into the middle ear. Allergies and viruses can affect performance of the Eustachian tube, leading to a partial vacuum in the ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This negative pressure stretches the eardrum, creating a pocket or cyst that fills with old skin cells and waste material, which can become easily\u00a0infected. In rare cases, <a title=\"Congenital cholesteatoma | Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"cholesteatoma can be congenital  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15377951\" target=\"_blank\">cholesteatoma can be congenital<\/a> (present at birth).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Symptoms of Cholesteatoma?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-845307818-1280x854.jpg\" alt=\"A patient having an otoscope examination\" class=\"wp-image-451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-845307818-1280x854.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-845307818-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-845307818-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-845307818.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms of cholesteatoma include drainage from the ear, a feeling of fullness, hearing loss, earache&nbsp;and&nbsp;dizziness. Since these are also present in other conditions, tests such as CT scans and electronystagmography can be used to rule out other conditions and confirm the diagnosis. Cholesteatomas&nbsp;continue to grow if not treated&nbsp;and can lead to complications such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Deafness.<\/li><li>Facial paralysis.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Brain abscess.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Meningitis.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Is a Cholesteatoma Diagnosed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A cholesteatoma diagnosis typically begins with a medical history and visual inspection with an otoscope. An audiogram or tympanogram hearing test may be administered to determine the level of hearing loss and a CT scan of the temporal bone may need to be ordered. Some of the symptoms that can lead a physician to suspect a cholesteatoma include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>History of past <a href=\"https:\/\/carolinapinesent.com\/ent\/ear-infection\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"196\">middle ear infections<\/a> or fluid buildup<\/li><li>Discharge from the ear<\/li><li>Gradual loss of hearing<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Is Cholesteatoma Treated?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An otolaryngologist will determine the size and <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/j.1365-2273.1976.tb00869.x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">growth rate of the cholesteatoma<\/a> and recommend treatment based on these findings. Controlling the infection with antibiotics or eardrops is a crucial first step.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a&nbsp;large cholesteatoma&nbsp;it may&nbsp;be treated surgically. Performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis, the cholesteatoma is removed in order to eliminate the infection. Follow-up surgery to ensure the cholesteatoma is gone and to reconstruct damaged middle ear bones may be necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><p>Call <span class=\"company-name \">Carolina Pines ENT<\/span> at <a href=\"tel:+18036305353\" class=\"phone \"> <span class=\"phNum\">(803) 630-5353<\/span><\/a> for more information or to schedule an appointment.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a Cholesteatoma? A cholesteatoma sometimes referred to as a benign ear cyst is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum that may also affect the mastoid (skull bone). It begins as a cyst that gradually increases in size,\u00a0destroying the bones of the middle ear and causing hearing loss.\u00a0\u00a0 What&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":359,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"[phone format=none] | Cholesteatoma is a skin growth behind the ear drum. It can lead to hearing loss, paralysis, and meningitis. Call to schedule testing.","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"What are head and neck masses?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"A number of masses may develop in your head or neck; these masses may also be called growths, tumors, lumps or bumps. While some head and neck masses are cancerous, many are not. It is important to see a physician if any abnormal bump or lump persists for more than two weeks. If a cancer is present, early detection provides the highest chance of successful treatment.\"\r\n    }\r\n  }, {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"How are the causes of head and neck masses?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"There are numerous causes of head and neck masses. Enlargement of lymph nodes is the most common cause of new neck masses. Lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system, can enlarge when the body rallies to fight an infection. When the infection recedes, lymph swelling subsides as well. Benign lesions do not spread to surrounding tissue and are not cancerous. Nevertheless, benign masses can be serious if they impact nerves or exert pressure in the head and neck, and are often removed surgically. These include cysts, thyroid masses, vascular masses, salivary gland masses and others. Cancers can spread to surrounding tissue or to other parts of the body. 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In other cases, additional tests may be required. These tests include: MRI, CT scan, PET and biopsy. \"\r\n }\r\n }, {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"How are head and neck masses treated?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"Treatments are determined by the cause of the mass. Benign neck cysts and masses are usually removed by surgical excision. 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