Pediatric Otolaryngology: Advances in the Management of Cholesteatoma in Children

Program Description: The management of cholesteatoma has been a topic frequently filled with controversy regarding surgical technique and different methods of hearing restoration. Cholesteatoma management has always presented the otolaryngologist with a unique set of challenges, especially in the pediatric population. Challenges in management include access to various areas of the middle ear and surrounding structures, identification of recurrence, and restoration of hearing loss caused by the disease. Within the past decade, novel techniques such as removal/replacement of the canal wall, diffusion weighted MRI for diagnosis of recurrence, and advances in understanding of cholesteatoma biology have resulted in evolving clinical algorithms used to treat this difficult disease. This miniseminar will be organized as a panel discussing current care and novel management of pediatric cholesteatoma. The multi-institutional panel will include experts in cholesteatoma biology, resective surgery for cholesteatoma, hearing restoration, and imaging of cholesteatoma. Each panelist will focus on novel and/or controversial aspects of cholesteatoma management. The miniseminar will use an audience response system to allow interaction between the panel and the audience during the presentations. Educational Objectives: 1) Identify current theories regarding etiology of pediatric cholesteatoma and biologic factors determining behavior of cholesteatoma. 2) Understand current options for primary and hearing restorative surgery for pediatric cholesteatoma. 3) Learn about current options for identification of recurrent pediatric cholesteatoma.