Abstract
Cholesterol granuloma has been considered to be associated with long-standing otitis media with effusion (OME). Blue ear drums in cholesterol granuloma do not show the adhesions or retraction pockets which are commonly observed in patients with persistent OME. This indicates that cholesterol granuloma is a different disease from OME.
On the basis of investigations of 8 cases of cholesterol granuloma, it was concluded that the time of occurrence of Eustachian tube dysfunction can be used to differentiate the two diseases clinically. In the ears with OME, Eustachian tube dysfunction occurs during the development of temporal bone air cell structures and inhibits their development. On the other hand Eustachian tube dysfunction in ears with cholesterol granuloma may occur after completion of the development of air cell structures. The degree of maturity of air cell structures may determine middle ear mucosal reactions and lead to specific pathological changes such as cholesterol granuloma.
