Can residual cholesteatoma be detected by early postoperative DWI?

Abstract

Residual cholesteatoma results from an incomplete surgical removal of the cholesteatoma matrix. A variety of surgical procedures are used to remove cholesteatomas with varying success rates. In extensive cholesteatomas with minimal possibility of conductive system reconstruction, subtotal petrosectomy with blind sac closure is an effective surgical procedure. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and ADC maps are used in the dia­gnosis of recurrent cholesteatoma. We present the case of a 40-year-old man, who repeatedly underwent revision surgeries for extensive cholesteatoma recidivism. An early postoperative DWI in the first days after the revision intervention did not show residual cholesteatoma. Surprisingly, a follow-up DWI detected the presence of cholesteatoma a few months later. The goal of this paper is to open the discussion on early postoperative DW MRI. Key words recidivism – residual and recurrent cholesteatoma – DWI – ADC map – subtotal petrosectomy – blind sac closure