Labyrinthine fistula : a severe complication of cholesteatoma

The labyrinthine fistula is a severe complication of chronic otitis media withcholesteatoma. It is the consequence of a progressive erosion of the endochondral bonecovering and closing the labyrinth by the cholesteatoma matrix. As thelabyrinth is connected to the cochlea, a labyrinthine fistula can lead to sensorineural hearingloss in addition to vertigo. Computed tomography imaging of the petrous bones issystematic, specifying the seat and extension of the cholesteatoma, and evaluating the extentof bone lysis.We report the case of a young female patient who presents a chronic otitis media withcholesteatoma complicated by a labyrinthinefistula and a left temporal brain abscess.