Cholesteatoma in a cat

• Main Authors: Akash Alexander, Paul Mahoney, Emma Scurrell, Stephen Baines
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-05-01
• Series: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116919848086

Case summary A 14-year-old neutered female Burmese cat was referred for investigation of a caudal oropharyngeal mass. CT showed a thin walled cyst-like structure filling and expanding from the right tympanic bulla. Histopathology showed fragments of mildly dysplastic squamous epithelium and aggregates of keratin. These findings were considered consistent with a diagnosis of cholesteatoma. Relevance and novel information To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a cholesteatoma in a cat. Cholesteatoma should be considered a differential diagnosis for cats presenting with a caudal oropharyngeal mass, a history of chronic ear disease or a history of previous, surgically managed middle ear disease. Advanced imaging and biopsies should be considered important in the diagnosis of these lesions.