Cholesteatoma of the middle ear is a benign lesion that is treated promptly and does not usually affect life expectancy.
Middle ear cholesteatoma is a tumor-like lesion formed by the accumulation of epithelium in the middle ear. Simple middle ear cholesteatoma does not usually affect life and health.
However, middle ear cholesteatoma can damage the surrounding tissues and skull bone. If symptoms are not treated in a timely manner, the lesion can invade the inner ear and the skull, which may cause intracranial and extracranial complications, such as meningitis, brain abscess, hydrocephalus, and cerebral herniation, which can be life-threatening.
Therefore, if ear symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, and if the diagnosis of cholesteatoma of the middle ear is confirmed through examination, the cholesteatoma should be removed surgically under the guidance of the doctor to eradicate the diseased tissues and prevent complications, so as to avoid the progression of the disease affecting the life expectancy.