[Primary study of diagnosis and treatment of huge petrous apex cholesteatoma (clinical analysis of 2 cases)].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical features, operative approach and method of petrous apex cholesteatoma, to improve the effect of operation and to reduce surgical complications. METHOD:Two cases of patients with giant petrous apex cholesteatoma were treated by trans labyrinth approach, one of which was successfully operated with oto-endoscope-assisted surgery. RESULT:No cerebrospinal fluid leakage, infection, vertigo or disequilibrium was found in the two cases after operation. CONCLUSION:Temporal CT and MRI are of great importance in clinical diagnosis and choice of surgical approach. Surgery by trans-labyrinth approach paves way for removing cholesteatoma thoroughly, dealing with facial nerve and repairing cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Surgery is considered to be the only way to cure petrous apex cholesteatoma, while the key procedure to prevent recurrence lies in complete removal of lesion, long-time strict follow up and regular clearance of the surgical field.