A Wait and Scan Protocol for Asymptomatic Postsurgical Cholesteatoma Recurrence: A Novel Management Strategy.

Cohort studyOtology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology· Aug 2026

A Wait and Scan Protocol for Asymptomatic Postsurgical Cholesteatoma Recurrence: A Novel Management Strategy.

David Kiderman, Daniel Goldstein, Meital Adi … Udi Katzenell

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Otology & HearingCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 1.6

Surgery-free survival was 91% at 36 months during active MRI surveillance.

A Wait and Scan Protocol for Asymptomatic Postsurgical Cholesteatoma Recurrence: A Novel Management Strategy.

David Kiderman … Udi Katzenell

Otology & neurotology · Aug 2026 · Q1 in Otorhinolaryngology

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of active MRI surveillance as an alternative to immediate surgical re-exploration in patients with small, asymptomatic postoperative cholesteatoma recurrence.

Methods

Secondary referral otology center.

Results

9 in 10 patients avoided surgery through 3 years of surveillance

SFS 91 (95% CI 74 to 100)

null 0

74

100

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Ten patients (77%) remained surgery-free throughout the surveillance.

Three patients (23%) required surgical intervention due to lesion enlargement or symptom development.

The mean lesion growth rate was 0.32±1.0 mm/year.

Three patients (23%) demonstrated spontaneous radiologic regression during follow-up.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

In selected patients with small, asymptomatic postoperative cholesteatoma recurrence, active MRI surveillance may safely defer surgical re-exploration.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings support further prospective evaluation of imaging-guided surveillance strategies for the management of MRI-detected recurrence.

A Wait and Scan Protocol for Asymptomatic Postsurgical Cholesteatoma Recurrence: A Novel Management Strategy.

A Wait and Scan Protocol for Asymptomatic Postsurgical Cholesteatoma Recurrence: A Novel Management Strategy.

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