Non-microscopic Middle Ear Cholesteatoma Surgery: A Case Report of a Novel Head-Up Approach

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a postauricular transcortical mastoidectomy utilizing an exoscope, which offers 3D stereoscopic visualization. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical capsule report. PATIENTS: Two consecutive patients with cholesteatoma involvement in the mastoid cavity were included in the study. INTERVENTION: After transcanal endoscopic surgery, postauricular mastoidectomy utilizing a surgical 3D exoscope was performed. Then, the cholesteatoma in the mastoid cavity was removed through the mastoidectomy opening with endoscopes. RESULTS: The postauricular transcortical mastoidectomy utilizing a 3D exoscope was not only feasible, but importantly, the exoscope took little time to switch to and resulted in a smooth workflow. There was no cholesteatoma recurrence at 9 months. CONCLUSION: During endoscope-based surgery, in patients with cholesteatoma mastoid involvement, we can continue to perform the surgical procedure in a heads-up position utilizing a surgical 3D exoscope. The combination of transcanal endoscopic ear surgery and the postauricular transcortical mastoidectomy utilizing a surgical 3D exoscope is a very novel treatment strategy for cholesteatoma, and it gives us a comfortable and consistent working environment in endoscope-based ear surgery.