Rigid Autofluorescence Imaging as a Tool for Identifying Cholesteatoma During Otologic Surgery: Initial Ex Vivo Findings

Rigid autofluorescence imaging demonstrates significant potential for improving cholesteatoma surgery by reliably differentiating cholesteatoma matrix, both with and without accumulated keratin, from mucosa, showing 2.25- and 2.15-fold higher signal intensities, respectively. This technique could assist otologic surgeons in achieving more complete resections, thereby reducing residual disease rates while preserving surrounding structures. Future research should focus on optimizing the technology for in vivo application, particularly for detecting small cholesteatoma fragments, and further evaluate factors influencing specificity and sensitivity in clinical practice.