External auditory canal cholesteatoma.

External auditory canal cholesteatoma was diagnosed in seven ears of six patients, all male, aged 65-83 years. Four patients were treated with surgery, and no recurrence of cholesteatoma has been noted. High resolution target CT imaging, especially coronal section, was useful in demonstrating the spatial distribution. The lesions were classified into three patterns according to the clinical findings. The pathologic features and surgical findings suggested that the variations could be attributed to the degree of bony destruction in the early stage.