Diagnosing And Treating A Cholesteatoma

A cholesteatoma is a destructive, noncancerous growth that expands throughout the middle ear. It begins as a cyst that sheds dead squamous epithelial cells, and these keratinizing, or hardening, cells keep building upon each other accumulating fluids, debris, and sebum. As it grows, it can destroy the small middle ear bones affecting balance, facial muscles, and hearing. Ultimately, it can cause vertigo and especially hearing loss. It is caused by a congenital disability as an abnormal growth inside the ear canal or from repeated inner ear infections. Sometimes, it is caused by the eustachian tubes not properly functioning regulating air flow and pressurization.