Risk Factors of Stangerup et al for Recurrence of Acquired Cholesteatoma in Children After Surgery

 

Parameters:

(1) age of the patient

(2) size of the cholesteatoma

(3) erosion of the ossicular chain (ossicles are the incus, malleus and stapes)

(4) preoperative Valsalva test as a measure of Eustachian tube function

Parameter	Findings	Points
age of the patient	>= 8 years of age	0
	< 8 years of age	1
size of the cholesteatoma	not large	0
	large	1
erosion of the ossicular chain	absent	0
	present	1
preoperative Valsalva test	positive (good Eustachian tube function)	0
	negative (poor Eustachian tube function)	1

 

where:

• Good Eustachian tube function indicates ventilation of the middle ear. It was considered present if middle ear pressures were normal or if the middle ear was air-filled at preoperative otomicroscopy (page S70).

• I wonder if a history of previous recurrence would increase the risk any.

 

number of risk factors =

= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum number of risk factors: 0

• maximum number of risk factors: 4

• The greater the number of risk factors the greater the risk for recurrence.