Cholesteatoma of the Brain

Cholesteatomas, although rare, were described as early as 1829 by Cruveilhier, 1 who called them pearl tumors. Even before this date, LePrestre had probably reported them under the name of tumeur adipociriforme. In 1838, Johannes Muller discovered their laminated structure and named them cholesteatomas. Furthermore, he noted the capsule, saw the polygonal cells without nuclei, called attention to the absence of blood vessels within the tumor and compared them to the horny growths in the skin. Virchow studied them in 1855. He disagreed with Muller in the belief that cholesterin was essential in the tumor and suggested a return to the name of pearl tumor. Bostroem, 2 in his report in 1897, probably contributed more to the knowledge of these tumors than any one investigator. ETIOLOGY AND INCIDENCE Cholesteatomas may be: (1) primary (true tumors) or (2) secondary tumors, which are presumably the result of pre-existing suppuration. The latter condition