Recurrent hemorrhage into middle ear (ME) cavity causes inflammatory mass of granulation tissue
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Reporting Tips
Selected References
Angeletti D et al: Tympanic cholesterol granuloma and exclusive endoscopic approach. Am J Case Rep. 21:e925369, 2020
Hodges J et al: Gradenigo's syndrome and bacterial meningitis in a patient with a petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2020:8822053, 2020
Kim SG et al: A case of fungal ball with cholesterol granuloma in the middle ear cavity. J Audiol Otol. 24(4):210-23, 2020
Pace A et al: Tympano-mastoid cholesterol granuloma: case report and review of the literature. Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 13:1179547620958728, 2020
Campion T et al: Imaging of temporal bone inflammations in children: a pictorial review. Neuroradiology. 61(9):959-70, 2019
Khant ZA et al: Three-dimensional reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession diffusion-weighted imaging for the detection of middle ear cholesteatoma. Clin Radiol. 74(11):898.e7-13, 2019
Laora AD et al: Cochlear implant electrode migration due to cholesterol granuloma: cues from a case. J Int Adv Otol. 15(3):466-8, 2019
Bruchhage KL et al: Transsphenoidal and infralabyrinthine approach of the petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 274(7):2749-56, 2017
Grinblat G et al: Petrous apex cholesterol granulomas: outcomes, complications, and hearing results from surgical and wait-and-scan management. Otol Neurotol. 38(10):e476-e485, 2017
Kuruma T et al: Large cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear eroding into the middle cranial fossa. Case Rep Otolaryngol. 2017:4793786, 2017
Olcott C et al: A blue middle ear mass: cholesterol granuloma mimicking a glomus tumor and endolymphatic sac tumor. Am J Otolaryngol. 38(1):100-2, 2017
Özgen B et al: Accuracy of turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging signal intensity measurements for the diagnosis of cholesteatoma. Diagn Interv Radiol. 23(4):300-6, 2017
Dinh CT et al: Atypical radiographic features of skull base cholesterol granuloma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 273(6):1425-31, 2016
Iannella G et al: Tympanomastoid cholesterol granuloma: radiological and intraoperative findings of blood source connection. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 273(9):2395-401, 2016
Isaacson B et al: Endoscopic management of middle ear and temporal bone lesions. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 49(5):1205-14, 2016
Sweeney AD et al: Cholesterol granuloma development following temporal bone surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 154(6):1115-20, 2016
Yawn RJ et al: Spontaneous resolution of a petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Am J Otolaryngol. 37(5):452-4, 2016
Polo R et al: Mastoid cholesterol granuloma with posterior cranial fossa compression. Otol Neurotol. 34(7):e103-4, 2013
Shih TY et al: Erosive cholesterol granuloma. Otol Neurotol. 34(4):e26-7, 2013
Ursick JA et al: Cholesterol granuloma. Ear Nose Throat J. 91(10):E31, 2012
Matsuda Y et al: Analysis of surgical treatment for middle-ear cholesterol granuloma. J Laryngol Otol Suppl. (31):90-6, 2009
Martin TP et al: A large and uncharacteristically aggressive cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear. J Laryngol Otol. 119(12):1001-3, 2005
Murugasu E et al: Invasive middle ear cholesterol granuloma involving the basal turn of the cochlea with profound sensorineural hearing loss. Otol Neurotol. 25(3):231-5, 2004
Jackler RK et al: A new theory to explain the genesis of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Otol Neurotol. 24(1):96-106; discussion 106, 2003
Maeta M et al: Surgical intervention in middle-ear cholesterol granuloma. J Laryngol Otol. 117(5):344-8, 2003
Friedmann I et al: The ultrastructure of cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear: an electron microscope study. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 1979; Vol. 93, pp. 433-442. J Laryngol Otol. 116(11):877-81, 2002
Kosling S et al: CT and MR imaging after middle ear surgery. Eur J Radiol. 40(2):113-8, 2001
Campos A et al: Cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear: report of 5 cases. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg. 50(2):125-9, 1996
Martin N et al: Cholesterol granulomas of the middle ear cavities: MR imaging. Radiology. 172(2):521-5, 1989
Palva T et al: Large cholesterol granuloma cysts in the mastoid. Clinical and histopathologic findings. Arch Otolaryngol. 111(12):786-91, 1985
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References
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KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Clinical Issues
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TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Cholesterol granuloma (CG)
Synonyms
Cholesterol cyst, chocolate cyst, blue-dome cyst
Definitions
Recurrent hemorrhage into middle ear (ME) cavity causes inflammatory mass of granulation tissue
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Reporting Tips
Selected References
Angeletti D et al: Tympanic cholesterol granuloma and exclusive endoscopic approach. Am J Case Rep. 21:e925369, 2020
Hodges J et al: Gradenigo's syndrome and bacterial meningitis in a patient with a petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2020:8822053, 2020
Kim SG et al: A case of fungal ball with cholesterol granuloma in the middle ear cavity. J Audiol Otol. 24(4):210-23, 2020
Pace A et al: Tympano-mastoid cholesterol granuloma: case report and review of the literature. Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 13:1179547620958728, 2020
Campion T et al: Imaging of temporal bone inflammations in children: a pictorial review. Neuroradiology. 61(9):959-70, 2019
Khant ZA et al: Three-dimensional reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession diffusion-weighted imaging for the detection of middle ear cholesteatoma. Clin Radiol. 74(11):898.e7-13, 2019
Laora AD et al: Cochlear implant electrode migration due to cholesterol granuloma: cues from a case. J Int Adv Otol. 15(3):466-8, 2019
Bruchhage KL et al: Transsphenoidal and infralabyrinthine approach of the petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 274(7):2749-56, 2017
Grinblat G et al: Petrous apex cholesterol granulomas: outcomes, complications, and hearing results from surgical and wait-and-scan management. Otol Neurotol. 38(10):e476-e485, 2017
Kuruma T et al: Large cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear eroding into the middle cranial fossa. Case Rep Otolaryngol. 2017:4793786, 2017
Olcott C et al: A blue middle ear mass: cholesterol granuloma mimicking a glomus tumor and endolymphatic sac tumor. Am J Otolaryngol. 38(1):100-2, 2017
Özgen B et al: Accuracy of turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging signal intensity measurements for the diagnosis of cholesteatoma. Diagn Interv Radiol. 23(4):300-6, 2017
Dinh CT et al: Atypical radiographic features of skull base cholesterol granuloma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 273(6):1425-31, 2016
Iannella G et al: Tympanomastoid cholesterol granuloma: radiological and intraoperative findings of blood source connection. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 273(9):2395-401, 2016
Isaacson B et al: Endoscopic management of middle ear and temporal bone lesions. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 49(5):1205-14, 2016
Sweeney AD et al: Cholesterol granuloma development following temporal bone surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 154(6):1115-20, 2016
Yawn RJ et al: Spontaneous resolution of a petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Am J Otolaryngol. 37(5):452-4, 2016
Polo R et al: Mastoid cholesterol granuloma with posterior cranial fossa compression. Otol Neurotol. 34(7):e103-4, 2013
Shih TY et al: Erosive cholesterol granuloma. Otol Neurotol. 34(4):e26-7, 2013
Ursick JA et al: Cholesterol granuloma. Ear Nose Throat J. 91(10):E31, 2012
Matsuda Y et al: Analysis of surgical treatment for middle-ear cholesterol granuloma. J Laryngol Otol Suppl. (31):90-6, 2009
Martin TP et al: A large and uncharacteristically aggressive cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear. J Laryngol Otol. 119(12):1001-3, 2005
Murugasu E et al: Invasive middle ear cholesterol granuloma involving the basal turn of the cochlea with profound sensorineural hearing loss. Otol Neurotol. 25(3):231-5, 2004
Jackler RK et al: A new theory to explain the genesis of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma. Otol Neurotol. 24(1):96-106; discussion 106, 2003
Maeta M et al: Surgical intervention in middle-ear cholesterol granuloma. J Laryngol Otol. 117(5):344-8, 2003
Friedmann I et al: The ultrastructure of cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear: an electron microscope study. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 1979; Vol. 93, pp. 433-442. J Laryngol Otol. 116(11):877-81, 2002
Kosling S et al: CT and MR imaging after middle ear surgery. Eur J Radiol. 40(2):113-8, 2001
Campos A et al: Cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear: report of 5 cases. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg. 50(2):125-9, 1996
Martin N et al: Cholesterol granulomas of the middle ear cavities: MR imaging. Radiology. 172(2):521-5, 1989
Palva T et al: Large cholesterol granuloma cysts in the mastoid. Clinical and histopathologic findings. Arch Otolaryngol. 111(12):786-91, 1985
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