Recurrent intracranial complication in residual Cholesteatoma

Introduction

A cholesteatoma is an abnormal non-cancerous growth of epidermal cells in the middle ear and mastoid. Mistreated infected cholesteatomas can cause rapid bone destruction and negligence of this pathology can lead to life-threatening intracranial complications.

Case report

We describe a case of residual cholesteatoma in a 20 year-old male, complicated with cerebellar abscess. The patient presented to our clinic with ipsilateral otalgia, hypacusis and retrotauricular swelling, while the laboratory tests showed unremarkably increased C-reactive protein (7,2 mg/L), without white blood cells count deviations. He was treated one year ago with antibiotics due to suppurative otitis media, which complicated with cerebellar abscess 5 months later. The condition required cortical mastoidectomy and aspiration of the abscess. A CECT was performed which showed evidence of recurrence of the middle ear disease with periauricular, subcutaneal, hypodensed shadow with clear borderline and liquid consistency. Treatment consisted of radical mastoidectomy and incision and drainage of perisinosoidal abscess, which was found intraoperatively. The patient condition improved and was discharged from the hospital less than a week later.

Conclusion

The present case report supports the theory that after the initial treatment ontime follow-ups are crucial for thorough recovery and preventing recurrence of cholesteatoma and the complications associated with it.

Keywords cholesteatoma, intracranial complication, mastoidectomy.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest