Cholesteatoma Surgery

The results of surgery in 266 cholesteatomatous ears were analyzed. In most cases the canal down technique was used. The mean follow-up period was 6.0 years. The incidence of postoperative cholesteatoma was 6%, which is significantly lower than the incidence of residual and/or recurrent cholesteatoma following intact canal wall tympanoplasty reported by several other authors. The canal down technique seems to be superior to the canal up technique in the management of large cholesteatomas.