Cholesteatoma as a complication of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the temporal bone: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if patients with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) of the temporal bone have a higher risk of developing cholesteatoma.

METHODS: Review of literature and cross-sectional weighted analysis of patients under 19 with a diagnosis of LCH from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from 2000 to 2013. ICD-9 codes and demographics were analyzed; pairwise comparisons and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Only seven cases of cholesteatoma after the treatment for LCH of the temporal bone have been documented in the literature. No significant association between cholesteatoma and LCH was seen (OR 0.747 [0.149-3.751]). Patients with LCH did have a higher incidence of chronic otitis media, chronic otitis externa, chronic sinusitis, hearing loss, and otitis media with effusion.

CONCLUSION: Our results show that patients with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis do not appear to have a higher risk of developing cholesteatoma. However they are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic otitis externa which should be differentiated from cholesteatoma or recurrence of LCH.