Keywords: Cholesteatorna, fistula

Abstract: We studied 14 patients with LSC exposure due to cholesteatoma in the ENT Department of Otolaryngology of Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo, between 1988 and 1992. The value of the audiogram to predict the exposure when compared to a control group (patients with cholesteatoma without complication) was studied. We concluded that total hearing loss before surgery is suggestive of labyrinth exposure, butany type of hearing loss can be present. The cholesteatoma matrix was removed from the fistula, and temporal fascia was used to cover it. Total hearing loss several weeks after surgery may occur, therefore the immediate post operative audiogram is not definitive.