ntroduction: Chronic otitis media (COM) is regarded as one of the disabling diseases which have a great influence on the quality of life. Because of the surgical approach of cholesteatoma, timely diagnosis is very important in management of patients with COM. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of cholesteatoma in patients with COM, demographic factors and disease related factors.
Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of 100 patients with COM who had surgery since 2005 to 2009 in Imam Reza Hospital were selected. Patients’ age, gender, duration of COM, clinical manifestations, location of perforation of tympanic membrane and presence or absence of cholesteatoma were analyzed by SPSS statistical software and some tables and graphs were planned.
Results: patients   included 70 males and 30 females with an average age of 23.08 ± 11.35. Mean of COM duration was 8.04 ± 7.14 years. The most common manifestations of the disease were otorrhea (92%) and hearing loss (80%). The most frequent type of tympanic perforation was total perforation. Frequency of cholesteatoma was 42% and it was more common in males than females (42.9% and 40%). Presence of choleasteatoma was related to gender, age, location of tympanic perforation, presence of otorrhea and hearing loss.
Conclusion: Prevalence of cholesteatoma in patients  with COM  in  Mashhad  is more than  other  cites of Iran and  also other  countries, but it is less than prevalence of non cholesteatomatos COM. It is very important to pay more attention to patients with COM who are evaluated about presence of cholesteatoma, specially those with otorrhea, hearing loss, total perforation of tympanic membrane or male gender.