Comparison of the Clinical Results of Attic Cholesteatoma Treatment: Endoscopic Versus Microscopic Ear Surgery

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare clinical outcomes including hearing improvement and cholesteatoma recurrence between endoscopic and conventional microscopic surgeries in patients with attic cholesteatoma. METHODS: We collected data from patients with attic cholesteatoma who were treated using endoscopic (10 patients) and microscopic (10 patients) approaches by a single surgeon. The data were retrospectively reviewed for patient characteristics, intraoperative findings, hearing levels, and follow-up clinical status. Recurrence of the cholesteatoma, improvement of hearing, and operation time were evaluated. RESULTS: Ossiculoplasty was performed in four patients in the endoscopic group and two patients in the microscopic group. Lempert endaural incision II was used in all the patients in the microscopic group, whereas Lempert I incision was used in all the patients in the endoscopic approach group. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding hearing improvement and operating time. And, there were no recurrences during the follow-up period in both groups. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic approach for the management of attic cholesteatoma is as useful as the microscopic approach.