Two cases of intracranial otogenic complications caused by cholesteatoma

We report herein on two cases of otogenic complications caused by a cholesteatoma. Case 1: The patient was a 33-year-old male who was hospitalized because of confusion, fever, and anorexia. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that he had an ear cholesteatoma with bone destruction of the cranial base, an abscess in the left temporal lobe of brain abscess and subperiosteal abscess. After drainage of the brain abscess, he underwent a radical mastoidectomy with meatoplasty. We finished the operation leaving some remnant cholesteatoma on the dura because of very strong dural adhesion by the cholesteatoma. The patient was transferred to a convalescent hospital without any side effects. Case 2: The patient was a 65-year-old female who was hospitalized because of left otitis media, meningitis and hydrocephalus. CT scan and MRI showed that she had a left side cholesteatoma with bone destruction of the cranial base and a fistula in the lateral semicircular canal. She underwent radical mastoidectomy with meatoplasty. We finished the operation leaving some remnant cholesteatoma on the dura for similar reasons as with case 1. The patient was transferred to a convalescent hospital without any side effects.