a SciTechnol journal Case Report
Chang, et al., J Otol Rhinol 2017, 6:1
DOI: 10.4172/2324-8785.1000303
International Publisher of Science,
Technology and Medicine
Journal of
Otology & Rhinology
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Endoscopic Transcanal
Approach to Remove Extensive
Petrous Cholesteatoma
WaiTsz WT Chang*, Thong J and Michael CF Tong
Abstract
Petrous cholesteatoma is a rare clinical entity and surgical treatment
is difficult because the anatomical location of the petrous bone. It
poses potential surgical risk of injury to the facial nerve, labyrinth,
carotid artery, dura and risk of cerebrospinal fluid leak. We report a
case of a young patient with extensive petrous cholesteatoma with
erosion of basal turn of the cochlea, posterior semicircular canals
and dehiscence of tegmen, facial nerve, carotid canal and roof
of the internal auditory canal. It was successfully treated via the
endoscopic transcanal approach. This surgical approach provides
an excellent anatomical advantage of reaching the tumor with
minimal destruction to the vital structures. It minimises soft tissue
dissection and left the normally aerated mastoid untouched. It
gave excellent functional aesthetic outcome with complete disease
clearance.
Keywords
Endoscopic ear surgery; TEES; Petrous cholesteatoma
*Corresponding author: WaiTsz WT Chang, MScEPB, MRCS, Department
of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University
of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, E-mail:
waitsz@gmail.com
Received: October 23, 2015 Accepted: November 22, 2016 Published: January
03, 2017
Case
A 32 year-old gentleman had been under follow-up in our
department for extensive petrous cholesteatoma since the age of 17.
He initially presented with a history of leſt otalgia and hearing loss at
the age of 17. He originally consulted general practice and medical
for leſt sided headache and otalgia. His physical examination was
normal. Later on he developed subacute deteriation of leſt hearing
and occasional dizziness. His otoscopic examination was normal
but his pure tone audiogram showed leſt mixed hearing loss. e
Computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone was performed
and this showed a massive labyrinthine-apical petrous cholesteatoma
abutting against the carotid canal with erosion of the cochlear and
abutting against the internal carotid artery. Excision Removal
of the lesion via a translabyrinthine-transcochlear approach was
suggested but the patient refused the procedure due to operative risk.
roughout 15 years of follow-up, the patient declined surgery at
each follow-up visit. He was thus closely monitored over the next 15
years during which he developed increasing symptoms of vertigo and
progressive hearing loss. e follow-up CT (Figure 1) and a diffusion
weighted MRI (Figure 2) scans showed a progressive disease with
extensive bony erosion, including the Internal carotid artery, tegmen,
facial nerve, fallopian canal, cochlear and anterior semicircular canal
with labyrinthine fistula. e pure tone audiogram showed leſt severe
hearing loss. His preoperative facial nerve was normal. A method
involving an infracochlear approach and endoscopic transcanal
excision of the petrous cholesteatoma via combined supragenieculate
was adopted. (3-mm Karl Storz Hopkins II® ear endoscopes with (0°,
30° and, 45° endoscopes) lenses and Stylus high-speed drill system
were used.) e Medtronic high speed drill system was used to drill off
the scutum and overhangings. e ossicles were removed to improve
exposure and gain access to the cholesteatoma. e cholesteatoma
in the middle ear was traced and discovered to lead to the petrous
bone via the suprageniculate and infracochlear routes with exposure
of: anteriorly, the Eustachian tube opening; inferiorly, the jugular
bulb; posteriorly, the horizontal portion of the facial nerve; and
superiorly, the tegmen. e lateral semicircular canal was identified
(Figure 3). Cholesteatoma above the tympanic portion of facial
nerve was removed and traced to the petrous via the suprageneculate
route. A small amount of cholesteatoma at the hypotympanum was
removed and the main bulk was followed anterior to the cochlear. e
opening was enlarged anterioinferiorly to the internal carotid artery.
Complete removal of cholesteatoma was achieved and confirmed
with 2.7mm 45 degree endoscope. At completion of surgery, the
margins of dissection1 were the Eustachian tube opening and the
internal carotid artery anteriorly, the jugular bulb inferiorly and the
tegmen superiorly (Figure 3). e eroded cochlea, the horizontal
portion of facial nerve and the lateral semicircular canal were all
clearly visualized. Postoperatively, the patient recovered uneventfully.
Postoperative facial nerve function was normal and the patient did
not experience vertigo. e Pure tone audiogram showed profound
hearing loss in the operated ear. e diffusion-weighted MRI is
done in one year aſter the operation, which showed no recurrence or
residual cholesteatoma.
A schematic diagram of the anatomy during dissection is shown
in Figure 4.
Figure 1: CT scan showing extensive bony erosion.