Earwax genotype as a risk factor of middle ear Cholesteatoma

Abstract

Earwax genotype was investigated to prove whether it is related to the incidence of middle ear cholesteatoma by analyzing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The subjects were 156 patients of middle ear cholesteatoma treated in our hospital. Control was 372 cases of normal volunteers. Wet earwax was found in 40 cases of cholesteatoma group (25.6%), while it was noted in 59 cases of control group (15.9%). Statistical analysis showed that the incidence of middle ear cholesteatoma was higher in wet earwax than in dry earwax (p<0.01). This finding indicates that wet earwax might be a strong risk factor of middle ear cholesteatoma.