Cholesteatoma recurrence after apparently complete surgical removal most often involves disease persisting in a small medial middle ear recess that cannot be visualised through a transcanal approach even with angled endoscopes. This recess is the:

• A Facial recess (posterior recess)
• B Sinus tympani ✓
• C Prussak's space
• D Additus ad antrum

Explanation

The sinus tympani lies medial to the pyramidal eminence and facial nerve, deep to the ponticulus, and opens into the mesotympanum. Its depth and overhang make residual cholesteatoma there invisible through the external canal, so it is the classic site of residual disease. Prussak's space is the most common site of origin of acquired cholesteatoma but lies laterally behind the pars flaccida and is readily accessible, while the facial recess is approached surgically posteriorly.

Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.