cholesteatoma
UK[ˌkɒlɪstiəˈtəʊmə]US[ˌkoʊləstiəˈtoʊmə]
n
A non-cancerous but destructive growth of skin cells in the middle ear, often resulting from repeated infection.
Morpheme Breakdown
chole
steat
oma
chole
bile
steat
fat
oma
tumor
Etymology
The term "cholesteatoma" is a modern medical neologism constructed from ancient Greek components. It was coined in the 19th century based on the mistaken belief that the waxy, pearly substance found in these ear growths was composed of cholesterol and fat, hence the combination of chole (bile/gall, associated with cholesterol) and steat (fat). The suffix -oma correctly identifies it as a pathological mass or tumor. Despite the initial misconception about its composition, the name has persisted in medical terminology to describe this specific, keratinizing epithelial lesion that erodes bone in the temporal region.
Analysis
Structure: chole (bile) + steat (fat) + oma (tumor)
- chole: From Greek cholē, meaning "bile, gall." In this compound, it refers to a fatty, cholesterol-like substance.
- steat: From Greek stear (genitive steatos), meaning "fat, tallow." It denotes the fatty, pearly appearance of the material.
- oma: From Greek -ōma, a suffix forming nouns indicating a morbid growth or tumor.
Examples
Chronic ear infections can sometimes lead to the development of a cholesteatoma.
The surgeon performed a mastoidectomy to remove the invasive cholesteatoma.
Symptoms of a cholesteatoma may include hearing loss, dizziness, and a persistent feeling of fullness in the ear.