Endoscopic exclusive transcanal approach to the tympanic cavity cholesteatoma in pediatric patients: our experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to describe our experience in the management of tympanic cavity cholesteatoma in pediatric patients, treated with endoscopic exclusive transcanal approach.

METHODS: A chart review of clinical data and videos from the operations of 54 pediatric patients, undergoing surgery between January 2007 and December 2013, was made. Patients presenting with cholesteatoma involving the tympanic cavity (mesotympanum, epitympanum, protympanum and/or hypotympanum), with no mastoid involvement, were included in the first group and underwent an exclusive transcanalar endoscopic approach (TEA). In case of mastoid extension of the pathology, patients were included in the control group and underwent a canal wall up microscopic technique (CWU).

RESULTS: In this study, 34 males and 20 females, including 5 bilateral cases, giving a total of 59 ears, were reviewed. Median age was 9.6 years (range 4-16 years). 31 cholesteatomas underwent a TEA approach, while 28 underwent a CWU approach, based on inclusion criteria. No differences from congenital vs acquired form was made, due to the difficult to correctly distinguish always the two forms. The ossicular chain was preserved in 26.6% of patients (16 ears): 42% of patients (13 ears) undergoing a transcanal endoscopic approach and 10% of patients undergoing a canal wall up microscopic approach (3 ears) (P=0.006). Second look surgery was executed in 41.6% of patients (25 ears). In partial ossicular prosthesis reconstructions, the mean preoperative pure-tone average was 29.4dB, while the mean postoperative pure-tone average was 27.1dB, with a mean increase of 2.3dB. In total ossicular prosthesis reconstructions, the mean preoperative pure-tone average was 47.8dB, while the mean postoperative pure-tone average was 26.5dB, with a mean increase of 21.3dB. Recurrence rate was 12.9% (4 ears) for the transcanal endoscopic approach group and 17.2% (5 ears) for the canal wall up microscopic approach. Residual disease was present in 26.6%: 19.3% (6 ears) for the transcanal endoscopic approach group and 34.4% (10 ears) for the canal wall up microscopic approach. The mean follow up was 36 months (range 8-88). Kaplan-Meier analysis at 36 months showed a lower recurrence risk for the transcanal endoscopic approach compared with the canal wall up microscopic approach, but this data was not statistically significant (P=0.58).

CONCLUSION: The transcanal endoscopic approach represents a feasible, minimally invasive and conservative technique for the management of pediatric middle ear cholesteatoma.