Treatments for Cholesteatoma
When not treated, cholesteatomas can lead to very serious complications, such as permanent hearing loss, a brain fluid leak, or brain infection.
Our Stanford Health Care Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists treat both minor and complex ear cysts. We recommend personalized treatment based on the size and location of the cholesteatoma and your overall health.
- Globally-recognized expertise: You'll see providers at one of the top ear, nose, and throat (ENT) centers in the world. We have trusted expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cholesteatomas.
- Groundbreaking treatments: We offer advanced treatments for cholesteatomas that require in-depth knowledge and surgical expertise.
- Team-based approach: Our specialists work together to plan and provide cholesteatoma treatment tailored to your needs. You’ll have access to ENT doctors, otologic neurotologist surgeons (head and neck surgeons), and hearing and balance specialists.
- Clinical trials: Our active research efforts provide eligible patients with early access to promising therapies available only at Stanford Health Care.
- Ease of access: You can find providers, treatment, and support services at convenient locations across the Bay Area. We make it simple to get the care you need—anywhere and anytime.
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We can treat some small cholesteatomas with regular ear cleanings, medicated ear drops, and follow-up care.
You may also get medications (in pill or ear drop form) to treat ear infections that can occur with a cholesteatoma.
Some ear injuries will heal on their own without complex treatment. Active surveillance means we’ll keep a close eye on your ear injury as it heals. Your doctor will continue doing ear exams and imaging tests, if needed, at follow-up visits. We’ll take action if ear damage worsens or complications develop, such as an ear infection.
The decision to do cholesteatoma surgery (and what type of surgery) depends on the size and location of the cyst and your overall health. In many cases, we need to treat a cholesteatoma with surgery.
Our highly skilled surgeons remove the ear cyst and surrounding tissue that is inflamed or infected. Your surgeon may also need to fix any damage caused by the cholesteatoma. For example, we may repair your middle ear bones (that help you hear) from the harmful effects of inflammation.
Most cholesteatoma surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia, which allows you to go home the same day.
In some cases, we may do a “second look” procedure to ensure the ear cyst has not grown back. If the cholesteatoma returns, we may need to do another surgery.
The inflammation from a cholesteatoma commonly causes conductive hearing loss (hearing loss from outer or middle ear damage). A larger, more invasive ear cyst may also cause sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss from inner ear or auditory nerve damage).
We offer many options to restore your hearing as much as possible. Depending on the type and severity of hearing loss you have, we may recommend a:
- Hearing aid
- Implanted hearing device, such as a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) or cochlear implant (at our dedicated Cochlear Implant Center)
Our specialists spend time with you to figure out the type of hearing device, fit, and settings that work best for you. You may need a hearing device in addition to surgery to repair your eardrum or middle ear bones.
You have access to the Stanford Health Care Balance Center if you experience balance difficulties from a cholesteatoma. We come up with a treatment plan to improve your balance after a complete evaluation of your symptoms. Our team combines the expertise of otologists (ENT), neurologists, rehabilitation medicine specialists, and orthopaedists.