CHOLESTEATOMA WITH FISTULA INTO THE LABYRINTH: Report of a Case in Which the Roentgenologic Findings Were Confusing

Abstract

In the case to be reported, cholesteatoma with fistula into the labyrinth on the left side was diagnosed clinically, and the diagnosis was proved correct at operation. Roentgenographic examination of the mastoid processes, however, revealed indefinite, if any, evidence of disease on the left side but marked evidence of abnormality on the right side. The case is reported to illustrate that roentgenographic evidence of chronic disease of the ear may at times be misleading. ( a ) Roentgenogram of left mastoid process showing no evidence of abnormality; the dehiscence in the left epitympanum is not readily seen in the reproduction; ( b ) roentgenogram of the right mastoid process, showing sclerosis of the bone and an epitympanic area of rarefaction, which was interpreted as a cholesteatoma. especially if not carefully correlated with the clinical manifestations of the disease. REPORT OF CASE A 37 year old married woman came to the Mayo Clinic on Sept.