INTRODUCTION: The cholesteatoma of the external acoustic meatus is an uncommon pathology. Most series in the literature describe secondary cases, with a few reports of primary cholesteatoma. It is characterized by the erosion of the external acoustic meatus bone portion by proliferation of the adjacent squamous tissue. OBJECTIVE: To report an uncommon case of primary cholesteatoma of the bilateral external acoustic meatus. CASE REPORT: Female patients aged 20 years old with ear ache for 3 years, associated to hypacusis and otorrhea to the left. Without a previous history of otologic pathologies. Upon otoscopy, there could be noticed bilateral erosion from the external acoustic meatus with a large amount of epidermal debris. The computed tomography confirmed cholesteatoma of the bilateral external acoustic meatus and the patient was submitted to modified radical tympanomastoidectomy to the right. FINAL COMMENTS: The primary cholesteatoma of the external acoustic meatus is an uncommon pathology that is part of the differential diagnosis of chronic otalgia and otorrhea. The evaluation of its extension must be done with computed tomography and surgery is the choice treatment.
cholesteatoma; bilateral external meatus; primary; bilateral
