[Congenital cholesteatoma of the mastoid process: cases of diagnosis and surgical treatment].

A brief review of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of congenital cholesteatoma (CC) of the temporal bone pyramid is presented, classifications reflecting the degree of spread or localization of the process are considered. Variants of local CCs of the mastoid process don't fit into these classifications, as well as there is no statistics on the frequency of their detection and treatment due to the rarity of this pathology. Clinical cases of diagnosis, surgical treatment of CC of the mastoid process and its results are described. Clinical examples indicate a long-term asymptomatic course of CC of the mastoid process, accompanied by a pronounced destructive process in the mastoid process. Early surgical treatment makes it possible to remove the neoplasm as radically as possible and preserve hearing function.