Published in:
22-09-2023 | Cholesteatoma | Case Report
Monozygotic twins and cholesteatomas: nature or nuture?
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 12/2023
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Purpose
Cholesteatoma is a rare middle ear pathology. It can be classified into acquired and congenital forms. Although benign, cholesteatomas can cause significant morbidity including hearing loss, infection, facial palsy and thrombosis. Congenital cholesteatomas are incredibly rare and bilateral disease has not commonly been published in the literature.
Method
We describe the case of female identical (monozygotic, monochorionic, diamniotic) twins who both developed
congenital cholesteatomas. In this report, we review the aetiology, treatment, embryology and pathology of cholesteatoma.
Results
The patients have been followed up 15 years after their initial surgery with promising results - pure-tone audiometry and repeat scans have not illustrated any disease recurrence.
Conclusion
This paper presents one of the only cases of female monozygotic twins presenting with unilateral and bilateral cholesteatomas.