www.sciencemag.org (this information is current as of May 5, 2008 ): The following resources related to this article are available online at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/289/5478/422 version of this article at: including high-resolution figures, can be found in the online Updated information and services, http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/289/5478/422#otherarticles , 1 of...

introduction: in developing countries, chronic otitis media (com) and cholesteatoma are relatively prevalent.  within the field of otology, com surgery remains one of the most common surgical treatments. most recent studies evaluating the potential prognostic factors in com surgery have addressed graft success rate and types of middle ear and mastoid pathology. there has been much controversy a...