Must lipoma otitis media be treated surgically? A: Cholesteatoma otitis media is actually a very common disease in otology and is currently thought to be mainly related to poor function of the eustachian tube. Once a cholesteatoma is formed, it enters an irreversible process. The cholesteatoma itself will gradually increase in size, and while it is increasing in size, it will cause damage to the bony structures in contact with it, resulting in facial paralysis, vertigo, hearing loss, and once infected, pus, and even intracranial and external infections (redness and swelling behind the ear, brain abscess, meningitis, etc.), even if it is too late for surgery, the infection can be life-threatening in severe cases. Therefore, once cholesteatoma is diagnosed, there is no other choice but to operate as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences.