Multi-operated cholesteatoma: when two surgeries are not enough

Endoscopic atticotomy for attic cholesteatomas using piezosurgery

BACKGROUND

Attic cholesteatomas can be exenterated by transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES). In the limited operative field of exclusive transcanal endoscopic atticotomy, surgeons use either a piezosurgery scalpel or a drilling system to remove the posterior lateral bony wall of the epitympanum. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of using piezosurgery or microdrill for endoscopic atticotomy during exenteration of attic cholesteatomas.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with attic cholesteatoma, who were treated by exclusive TEES. The superior and posterior external auditory canal bones were excised using a piezosurgery scalpel or microdrill. Preoperative and postoperative hearing thresholds were measured by pure-tone audiometry.

RESULTS

The postoperative follow-up duration varied from 6 to 37 months. There were no significant differences in age, sex, laterality of the affected ear, and preoperative bone conduction thresholds between the piezosurgery scalpel and microdrill groups. The operative duration was longer in the piezosurgery group than in the microdrill group (135.6 ± 19.5 minutes vs 117.3 ± 29.1 minutes, p = 0.042). Seven of 30 (23.3%) patients in the microdrill group, but none in the piezosurgery group, had a friction injury from the drilling. Postoperative testing at higher frequencies of 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz showed no deterioration in the bone conduction threshold in the piezosurgery group.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic atticotomy performed using a piezosurgery scalpel is potentially safer but slower than using a microdrill for exenteration of attic cholesteatomas.

The Relationship between the M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization and the Degree of Ossicular Erosion in Human Acquired Cholesteatoma: An Immunohistochemical Study

The differential involvement of the macrophage activation phenotypes (M1 vs. M2) has been linked to disease severity in various chronic inflammatory disorders. Pharmacologic manipulation of the M1/M2 macrophage polarization has shown therapeutic potential. Cholesteatoma is a destructive chronic middle ear disease with potentially life-threatening complications. The distribution of macrophage polarization phenotypes in middle ear cholesteatoma has not been described. In the present study, human cholesteatoma specimens acquired during tympanomastoidectomy were retrospectively retrieved and immunohistochemically characterized using a combination of antibodies labeling M1 macrophages (CD80), M2 macrophages (CD163), and total macrophages (CD68). The correlations between the immunohistochemical findings and clinical presentation were assessed. The findings revealed that cholesteatomas with more extensive ossicular erosion demonstrated a significantly higher number of M1 (CD80+) cells and a higher M1/M2 ratio than less invasive cholesteatomas (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05). The extent of ossicular erosion correlated significantly with the M1/M2 ratio (Spearman correlation coefficient ρ = 0.4, p < 0.05). Thus, the degree of ossicular erosion in human acquired cholesteatoma appears to be related to the M1/M2 macrophage polarization. The investigation of macrophage polarization and functions in various clinical presentations of middle ear cholesteatoma is of great interest since it may contribute to the development of pharmaceutical treatment approaches.