can cholesteatoma cause pain
Most of the time, patients do not know a cholesteatoma is present. The expanding cholesteatoma sac generally causes destruction of the ear drum and ossicles (bones of hearing). This causes hearing loss. There can be discharge from the ear. It is usually intermittent (comes and goes), but can be persistent. Sometimes this discharge is bloody. Cholesteatoma is not often painful. However, infection may occasionallyâ occur, causing pain and swelling behind the ear. A cholesteatoma is detected only by examining the ear and finding the disease.