Definition: A
cholesteatoma is a benign skin cyst in the middle ear that is comprised of mostly epithelial cells and, in many cases, cholesterol. An individual can be born with a
cholesteatoma or it can develop later on in life. Symptoms of a cholesteatoma
include dizziness, hearing loss, and ear drainage.
A common myth is that high cholesterol levels may cause cholesteatomas because of its name, but this is not true. Although cholesterol may be a component of cholesteatomas, they are not caused by high cholesterol levels. They usually result from chronic ear infections.
