External auditory canal cholesteatoma

External auditory canal cholesteatoma is defined as an accumulation of keratin leading to osteolytic bony erosion. It is a rare or underdiagnosed otologic entity. Our study aims to illustrate one case of external auditory canal cholesteatoma. Hypertensive diabetic patient, 65 years of age, under therapy suffering from severe right earache, insomnia, hearing loss, small purulent otorrhea and right facial paralysis grade V since 3 months. Initially the diagnosis was malignant external otitis. The patient underwent antibiotic therapy without improvement. Otologic examination showed burgeoning ulcerative lesion of the posterior wall of the right external auditory meatus. Systematic lesion biopsy was performed and confirmed the diagnosis of cholesteatoma. The patient underwent open technique tympanoplasty. External auditory canal cholesteatoma is rare, clinical symptoms are not specific, coronal CT scan makes a major contribution to a positive diagnosis showing bony crater of external auditory meatus. Treatment depends on the extent of the lesions. It can be based on simple local cares or on open technique tympanoplasty. External auditory canal cholesteatoma may have multiple clinical aspects and lend to confusion with other pathologies of the external auditory meatus.