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Mycological study on cholesteatoma keratin obtained during primary mastoid surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2014

K G Effat  and
N M Madany
K G Effat*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, El-Sahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
N M Madany
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Kamal G Effat, 51A El-Madina El-Monawara Street, Madinet El-Mohandeseen, Giza, Egypt E-mail: kamaleffat@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

Established middle-ear cleft cholesteatoma is associated with keratinous debris, which is likely to be an ideal medium for saprophytic fungal colonisation. This prospective case study aimed to explore the incidence and nature of fungal elements in cholesteatoma keratin samples obtained during primary mastoid surgery.

Methods:

All cases of middle-ear cleft cholesteatoma treated with primary mastoid surgery at the El-Sahel Teaching Hospital over a seven-month period were included. Keratinous debris obtained from the mastoid antrum was subjected to mycological analysis at the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. A literature search was performed to determine the clinical and pathological relevance of fungal colonisation in cholesteatoma.

Results:

Eighteen patients underwent primary mastoid surgery for cholesteatoma (nineteen ears in total) in a seven-month period starting 30 March 2013. Patients included 13 males and 5 females, with an age range of 9 to 45 years (mean 23 years). Fungal cultures were obtained from 17 keratin samples (89 per cent). Of these, five fungal isolates belonged to the dermatophyte group (21 per cent).

Conclusion:

Fungal colonisation in middle-ear cleft cholesteatoma probably plays a significant role in disease progression. Moreover, saprophytic fungal colonisation in cholesteatoma keratin may be responsible for the fetor commonly associated with the ear discharge.

Keywords

CholesteatomaMicrobiologyFungi

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 10 , October 2014 , pp. 881 - 884
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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