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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery logoLink to Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
. 2009 Jun 14;61(2):150–152. doi: 10.1007/s12070-009-0056-y

Role of vitamin A in the evolution of cholesteatoma

U S Vishal Rao 1,, D R Srinivas 2, Rajendra S Humbarwadi 3, Bharat Kumar Malhotra 4
PMCID: PMC3450003  PMID: 23120625

Abstract

The role of vitamin A in the maintenance of epithelial integrity is well known. Several animal studies have dealt with the induction of cholesteatoma in vitamin A deficiency states and prevention and treatment of otitis media with vitamin A treatment. We treated five patients of cholesteatoma with vitamin A oral supplements and no other treatment and found significant resolution of cholesteatoma in four patients. Though this may not be an explanation in every case of cholesteatoma, our study highlights that there is a subset of patients with vitamin A deficient cholesteatoma who could substantially benefit from intervention with this wonderful vital amine.

Keywords: Vitamin A, Cholesteatoma

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