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Cholesteatoma

MedGen UID:
3043
Concept ID:
C0008373
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Cholesteatoma (disease); Congenital cholesteatoma (type); Primary acquired cholesteatoma (type); Secondary acquired cholesteatoma (type)
SNOMED CT: Cholesteatoma (575006); Epidermoid cholesteatoma (575006); Cholesteatoma (363668000)
 
HPO: HP:0009797
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0006530

Definition

Cholesteatoma is a benign but potentially destructive growth consisting of keratinizing epithelium located in the middle ear and/or mastoid process. In cholesteatoma, a skin cyst grows into the middle ear and mastoid. The cyst is not cancerous but can erode tissue and cause destruction of the ear. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Marshall-Smith syndrome
MedGen UID:
75551
Concept ID:
C0265211
Disease or Syndrome
The Marshall-Smith syndrome (MRSHSS) is a malformation syndrome characterized by accelerated skeletal maturation, relative failure to thrive, respiratory difficulties, mental retardation, and unusual facies, including prominent forehead, shallow orbits, blue sclerae, depressed nasal bridge, and micrognathia (Adam et al., 2005).
Kabuki syndrome
MedGen UID:
162897
Concept ID:
C0796004
Congenital Abnormality
Kabuki syndrome (KS) is characterized by typical facial features (long palpebral fissures with eversion of the lateral third of the lower eyelid; arched and broad eyebrows; short columella with depressed nasal tip; large, prominent, or cupped ears), minor skeletal anomalies, persistence of fetal fingertip pads, mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, and postnatal growth deficiency. Other findings may include: congenital heart defects, genitourinary anomalies, cleft lip and/or palate, gastrointestinal anomalies including anal atresia, ptosis and strabismus, and widely spaced teeth and hypodontia. Functional differences can include: increased susceptibility to infections and autoimmune disorders, seizures, endocrinologic abnormalities (including isolated premature thelarche in females), feeding problems, and hearing loss.
Brain-lung-thyroid syndrome
MedGen UID:
369694
Concept ID:
C1970269
Disease or Syndrome
NKX2-1-related disorders range from benign hereditary chorea (BHC) to choreoathetosis, congenital hypothyroidism, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (also known as brain-lung-thyroid syndrome). Childhood-onset chorea, the hallmark feature of NKX2-1-related disorders, may or may not be associated with pulmonary disease or congenital hypothyroidism. Age of onset of chorea varies from early infancy (most commonly) to late childhood or adolescence and may progress into the second decade, after which it remains static or (rarely) remits. Pulmonary disease, the second most common manifestation, can include respiratory distress syndrome in neonates, interstitial lung disease in young children, and pulmonary fibrosis in older individuals. The risk for pulmonary carcinoma is increased in young adults with NKX2-1-related disorders. Thyroid dysfunction, occurring as a result of thyroid dysgenesis, can present as congenital or compensated hypothyroidism. In one review, 50% of affected individuals had the full brain-lung-thyroid syndrome, 30% had brain and thyroid involvement only, and 13% had chorea only.
COG1 congenital disorder of glycosylation
MedGen UID:
443957
Concept ID:
C2931011
Disease or Syndrome
An extremely rare form of carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome with, in the few cases reported to date, variable signs including microcephaly, growth retardation, psychomotor retardation and facial dysmorphism.
Intellectual disability, autosomal dominant 2
MedGen UID:
481472
Concept ID:
C3279842
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Any autosomal dominant non-syndromic intellectual disability in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the DOCK8 gene.
Branchiootorenal syndrome 1
MedGen UID:
1632634
Concept ID:
C4551702
Disease or Syndrome
Branchiootorenal spectrum disorder (BORSD) is characterized by malformations of the outer, middle, and inner ear associated with conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing impairment, branchial fistulae and cysts, and renal malformations ranging from mild renal hypoplasia to bilateral renal agenesis. Some individuals progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) later in life. Extreme variability can be observed in the presence, severity, and type of branchial arch, otologic, audiologic, and renal abnormality from right side to left side in an affected individual and also among individuals in the same family.
Warburg-cinotti syndrome
MedGen UID:
1677486
Concept ID:
C5193019
Disease or Syndrome
Warburg-Cinotti syndrome (WRCN) is characterized by progressive corneal neovascularization, keloid formation, chronic skin ulcers, wasting of subcutaneous tissue, flexion contractures of the fingers, and acroosteolysis (Xu et al., 2018).
Immunodeficiency 82 with systemic inflammation
MedGen UID:
1781752
Concept ID:
C5543581
Disease or Syndrome
Immunodeficiency-82 with systemic inflammation (IMD82) is a complex autosomal dominant immunologic disorder characterized by recurrent infections with various organisms, as well as noninfectious inflammation manifest as lymphocytic organ infiltration with gastritis, colitis, and lung, liver, CNS, or skin disease. One of the more common features is inflammation of the stomach and bowel. Most patients develop symptoms in infancy or early childhood; the severity is variable. There may be accompanying fever, elevated white blood cell count, decreased B cells, hypogammaglobulinemia, increased C-reactive protein (CRP; 123260), and a generalized hyperinflammatory state. Immunologic workup shows variable B- and T-cell abnormalities such as skewed subgroups. Patients have a propensity for the development of lymphoma, usually in adulthood. At the molecular level, the disorder results from a gain-of-function mutation that leads to constitutive and enhanced activation of the intracellular inflammatory signaling pathway. Treatment with SYK inhibitors rescued human cell abnormalities and resulted in clinical improvement in mice (Wang et al., 2021).
Liver disease, severe congenital
MedGen UID:
1823968
Concept ID:
C5774195
Disease or Syndrome
Severe congenital liver disease (SCOLIV) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the onset of progressive hepatic dysfunction usually in the first years of life. Affected individuals show feeding difficulties with failure to thrive and features such as jaundice, hepatomegaly, and abdominal distension. Laboratory workup is consistent with hepatic insufficiency and may also show coagulation defects, anemia, or metabolic disturbances. Cirrhosis and hypernodularity are commonly observed on liver biopsy. Many patients die of liver failure in early childhood (Moreno Traspas et al., 2022).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Ahmad Z, Krüger K, Lautermann J, Lippert B, Tenenbaum T, Tigges M, Tisch M
HNO 2023 Aug;71(Suppl 1):67-72. Epub 2023 Jul 25 doi: 10.1007/s00106-023-01299-6. PMID: 37491540Free PMC Article
Wei B, Zhou P, Zheng Y, Zhao Y, Li T, Zheng Y
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2023 Jan;164:111401. Epub 2022 Dec 8 doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111401. PMID: 36512880
Swartz JD
Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2004 Aug;25(4):305-18. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2004.04.001. PMID: 15497612

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

James AL, Fina M
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2025 Feb;58(1):99-112. Epub 2024 Oct 10 doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2024.08.007. PMID: 39389827
Reuven Y, Raveh E, Ulanovski D, Hilly O, Kornreich L, Sokolov M
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2022 May;156:111098. Epub 2022 Mar 4 doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111098. PMID: 35255443
Yung M, Tono T, Olszewska E, Yamamoto Y, Sudhoff H, Sakagami M, Mulder J, Kojima H, İncesulu A, Trabalzini F, Özgirgin N
J Int Adv Otol 2017 Apr;13(1):1-8. Epub 2017 Jan 6 doi: 10.5152/iao.2017.3363. PMID: 28059056
Marchioni D, Villari D, Mattioli F, Alicandri-Ciufelli M, Piccinini A, Presutti L
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2013 Apr;46(2):201-9. Epub 2012 Nov 22 doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2012.10.004. PMID: 23566906
Vartiainen E, Karja J, Karjalainen S, Harma R
J Otolaryngol 1985 Dec;14(6):369-71. PMID: 4078957

Diagnosis

Alfonso KP
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2025 Feb;58(1):65-74. Epub 2024 Sep 7 doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2024.07.023. PMID: 39244457
Newsted D, Bajin MD, You P
CMAJ 2024 Oct 6;196(33):E1147-E1148. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.240072. PMID: 39374966Free PMC Article
Rutkowska J, Özgirgin N, Olszewska E
J Int Adv Otol 2017 Aug;13(2):266-271. Epub 2017 Mar 9 doi: 10.5152/iao.2017.3411. PMID: 28274903
Kuo CL, Shiao AS, Yung M, Sakagami M, Sudhoff H, Wang CH, Hsu CH, Lien CF
Biomed Res Int 2015;2015:854024. Epub 2015 Mar 18 doi: 10.1155/2015/854024. PMID: 25866816Free PMC Article
Wielinga EW, Kerr AG
Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1993 Oct;18(5):341-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.1993.tb00590.x. PMID: 8877197

Therapy

Bhutta MF, Leach AJ, Brennan-Jones CG
Lancet 2024 May 25;403(10441):2339-2348. Epub 2024 Apr 12 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00259-9. PMID: 38621397
Somers T, Schatteman I, Offeciers FE
Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg 2004;58(2):87-96. PMID: 15515649
Pulec JL, Deguine C
Ear Nose Throat J 2004 Jul;83(7):445. PMID: 15372907
Holt JJ
Laryngoscope 1992 Jun;102(6):608-13. doi: 10.1288/00005537-199206000-00004. PMID: 1376388
Chui R
Prim Care 1982 Jun;9(2):401-12. PMID: 6922570

Prognosis

Xin Y, Song W
J Laryngol Otol 2024 Sep;138(9):941-950. Epub 2024 May 16 doi: 10.1017/S0022215124000586. PMID: 38751317
Holt JJ
Laryngoscope 1992 Jun;102(6):608-13. doi: 10.1288/00005537-199206000-00004. PMID: 1376388
Vartiainen E, Karja J, Karjalainen S, Harma R
J Otolaryngol 1985 Dec;14(6):369-71. PMID: 4078957
Vartiainen E, Kärjä J, Karjalainen S, Härmä R
Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1985;242(1):27-33. doi: 10.1007/BF00464402. PMID: 4038148
Glasscock ME 3rd, Dickins JR, Wiet R
Laryngoscope 1981 Oct;91(10):1743-53. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198110000-00021. PMID: 7289705

Clinical prediction guides

McCallum R, Mohd Slim MA, Iyer A
Clin Otolaryngol 2022 Mar;47(2):369-374. Epub 2022 Jan 13 doi: 10.1111/coa.13904. PMID: 34931457
Urík M, Tedla M, Hurník P
Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 28;57(5) doi: 10.3390/medicina57050425. PMID: 33924803Free PMC Article
Singh GB, Solo M, Rana N, Kumar S
Ear Nose Throat J 2020 Jan;99(1):22-26. Epub 2019 Apr 11 doi: 10.1177/0145561319840546. PMID: 30974998
Kazahaya K, Potsic WP
Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004 Oct;12(5):398-403. doi: 10.1097/01.moo.0000136875.41630.d6. PMID: 15377951
Molina RP, Dulabon DA, Roth RB
Urology 1988 Feb;31(2):152-4. doi: 10.1016/0090-4295(88)90043-x. PMID: 3341104

Recent systematic reviews

Chan CY, Karmali SA, Arulanandam B, Nguyen LHP, Duval M
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023 Sep;169(3):449-453. Epub 2022 Apr 18 doi: 10.1177/01945998221094230. PMID: 35439089
Lau K, Stavrakas M, Yardley M, Ray J
Ear Nose Throat J 2021 Feb;100(1_suppl):94S-99S. Epub 2020 Aug 18 doi: 10.1177/0145561320948772. PMID: 32809846
Gioacchini FM, Cassandro E, Alicandri-Ciufelli M, Kaleci S, Cassandro C, Scarpa A, Re M
Auris Nasus Larynx 2018 Oct;45(5):903-910. Epub 2018 Apr 8 doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2018.03.006. PMID: 29636204
Ching HH, Spinner AG, Ng M
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2017 Nov;102:21-27. Epub 2017 Aug 25 doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.08.027. PMID: 29106870
Presutti L, Gioacchini FM, Alicandri-Ciufelli M, Villari D, Marchioni D
Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2014 Jun;34(3):153-7. PMID: 24882923Free PMC Article

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