Mongolian gerbils and man are the only animals known to spontaneously develop bone-eroding aural cholesteatoma. The pathophysiology of bone erosion in cholesteatoma is controversial. The majority of investigators believe that direct contact between cholesteatoma and bone is necessary for erosion to occur. We implanted glass, Silastic, and micropore barriers in the middle ear between the advancing cholesteatoma and cochlea in 50 Mongolian gerbils. The barriers prevented direct contact of cholesteatoma and cochlea but did not inhibit bone erosion. We conclude that transmitted pressure may be responsible for bone erosion in aural cholesteatoma in gerbils.
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