TMC: a new staging system for tympanomastoid cholesteatoma

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To present a new staging system for tympanomastoid cholesteatoma that is based on the primary site of pathology in the middle ear (T), its spread to the mastoid (M), and to the surrounding structures, either cranial, intracranial, or extracranial, and presence of complications (C). Setting: Tertiary Care Center (ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Egypt). Study design: Clinical Prospective Study. Methods: The TMC staging system is based on the correlation of preoperative otoscopy findings with computed tomography examination of the temporal bone. Preoperative findings have also been correlated with intraoperative findings. Patients: We included 120 patients with tympanomastoid cholesteatoma diagnosed preoperatively. Results: In 87% of the patients, preoperative and intraoperative staging were well correlated. Conclusion: The TMC staging system of cholesteatoma paves the way to a logical roadmap for functional surgery of the middle ear and mastoid; in addition, it makes the comparison of clinical studies about cholesteatoma meaningful.