Pictures of Mastoidectomy and Cholesteatoma
This page was last updated on: September 17, 2014
Mastoidectomy is an operation that allows the exposure of the mastoid air cells, middle ear space and ossicles. It is useful in eradicating chronic infections of the ear and the removal of cholesteatomas. This operation is also useful in exposing the facial nerve and in certain approaches to the inner ear structures.
The picture above shows the external auditory canal (EAC) and the mastoid antrum (the largest air cell in the mastoid). The sigmoid sinus is a large vein that drains blood from the brain. The tegmen is the bone that separates the mastoid from the brain.
This is a "canal wall up" mastoidectomy because the posterior bony canal has been preserved. For "canal wall down", click here.
In this left canal wall up mastoidectomy, the tympanic membrane has been elevated forward and a cholesteatoma sac is visible in the attic.
This patient has a recurrent cholesteatoma which has found its way to the surface of the post-auricular skin, forming a mastoid cutaneous fistula.
This cholesteatoma sac has eroded the lateral surface of the mastoid bone and was found immediately under the post-auricular skin.
Picture of a left mastoidectomy, surgeon's view.
Picture of a right mastoidectomy, surgeon's view. Note the blue color of the skeletonized sigmoid sinus.
OTOLARYNGOLOGY HOUSTON
Bechara Y. Ghorayeb, MD
Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
1140 Business Center Drive, Suite 560. Houston, Texas 77043
Phone: (713) 464 2614
