[Cholesteatoma of the middle ear with closed tympanic membrane in children. Apropos of 8 cases].

Among 30 children with cholesteatoma undergoing surgery at the Bicetre Hospital between 1985 and 1990, 8 had intact tympanic membranes. Since this represents a larger portion of the patient population than would be expected from previously published data, we under-look a critical analysis of the clinical findings. Among these 8 cases, 2 corresponded to the criteria of congenital cholesteatoma with no history of otitis or trauma and 3 corresponded to acquired types with histories of ventilatory intubation, myringoplasty and accidental trauma. Finally, 3 cases were possibly of mixed origin with lesions typical of congenital epithelial rests and a history of commonplace era infections. Based on these observations, the authors review the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of congenital cholesteatoma and evoke the etiologic impact of trauma, particularly iatrogenic events such as myringoplasty and ventilatory intubation.