Mastoidectomy
A mastoidectomy is a procedure performed to remove the mastoid air cells, air bubbles in the skull, near the inner ears. This can be done as part of treatment for mastoiditis, chronic suppurative otitis media or cholesteatoma. In addition, it is sometimes performed as part of other procedures or for access to the middle ear.
There are classically 5 different types of mastoidectomy:
;* Radical
;* Canal wall down
;* Canal wall up
;* Cortical
;* Modified radical
In Radical and Modified Mastoidectomy the mastoid and middle ear cavities are exteriorized so as not to give the chance for the infection or the cholesteatoma for that matter to spread into the middle cranial fossa. Since the cavities are exteriorized further inspection and cleaning could be done regularly.
