ENT - Level 3 Flashcards
Definition of cholesteatoma?
- Abnormal accumulation of squamous epithelium and keratinocytes within middle ear
- Active squamous chronic otitis media
- Keratinising squamous epithelia (of the skin) within middle ear with foul-smelling otorrhoea
- Can be locally invasive
- Bone erosion occurs mainly by pressure and release of osteolytic enzymes
Epidemiology of cholesteatoma?
- Young children
- 1 in 10000
- Peak Age: 5-15 years
- Males
Risk factors of cholesteatoma?
o Ear trauma
o Insertion of Grommets
o Otitis media
Classifications of cholesteatoma - congenital?
Squamous epithelium becomes trapped within temporal bone during embryogenesis
It expands, resulting in conducting hearing loss
Classifications of cholesteatoma - primary acquired?
Most common type
Chronic negative middle ear pressure
Dysfunctional Eustachian tube causes erosion of tympanic membrane and defect
Classifications of cholesteatoma - secondary acquired?
Insult to tympanic membrane (perforation or trauma)
Squamous epithelium implanted by insult
Symptoms of cholesteatoma?
o Foul-smelling otorrhoea o Deafness o Headache o Ear pain o Facial paralysis
Signs of cholesteatoma?
o Ear discharge
o Deep retraction pocket in tympanic membrane, with or without granulation tissue
o Crust or keratin in upper tympanic membrane
Assessment of cholesteatoma?
- If ear drum cannot be seen:
o Treat infection if present
o Refer to ENT - CT imaging
Management of cholesteatoma - all people?
arrange semi-urgent referral to ENT specialist
o For audiology and CT scan
Management of cholesteatoma - emergency referral?
o Facial paralysis, pain, signs of meningitis
Management of cholesteatoma - medical therapy?
- Medical therapy (only if unfit/refuse for surgery/prior to surgery)
o Regular ear cleaning with topical antibiotics
Management of cholesteatoma - surgical therapy?
- Mastoid surgery to remove disease
o Mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty
Second procedure after 9-12 months
o Myringoplasty – repair of tympanic membrane
Complications of cholesteatoma?
o Meningitis o Cerebral Abscess o Conductive Hearing Loss o Mastoiditis o Facial Nerve Dysfunction
Definition of acoustic neuroma?
- Indolent, histologically benign slow-growing subarachnoid tumours
- Causes problems by local pressure and behave as space-occupying lesions
- Tumour of vestibulocochlear nerve - arise from superior vestibular nerve Schwann cell layer
Location of acoustic neuroma?
o Internal auditory canal or cerebellopontine angle
Causes of acoustic neuroma?
o 40% a defect in long arm of chromosome 22
o Neurofibromatosis Type-2 – particularly bilateral
o High-dose ionising radiation
Symptoms and signs of acoustic neuroma?
Progressive ipsilateral tinnitus +/- sensorineural deafness (cochlear nerve compression)
o Any unilateral sensorineural hearing loss suspicious
Impaired facial sensation
Balance problems
Large tumours – ipsilateral cerebellar or raised ICP symptoms
Management of acoustic neuroma - referral?
- Refer urgently ENT for:
o Audiological assessment
o MRI for all those with unilateral tinnitus/deafness
Management of acoustic neuroma - conservative?
o Small neuromas and good hearing
o Watch and wait – annual scans to monitor growth
Management of acoustic neuroma - surgical?
o Microsurgery
Risks include – death, CSF leak, meningitis, cerebellar injury, stroke
Management of acoustic neuroma - radiotherapy?
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery
o Single large dose of radiation to control growth of tumour