Indications of Endoscopic or Microscopic Approach in Ear Surgery According to Current Evidence from the Literature

Alongside the historical use of the microscope, endoscopic ear surgery has been developed for several years. Its advantages are now widely recognized, for example its wider view and its clear superiority to detect “hidden cholesteatoma”. However, its use remains restricted to some teams, and its indications and applications are still debated in the otologist community. This review of the literature presents advantages, results, and limitations of both approaches. Moreover, the article highlights current evidence of equivalence or superiority of one of the other approach according to the different otologic surgical procedures. However, more studies about endoscopic ear surgery are required with longer follow-up and larger sample size. Finally, authors proposed a decision-making tree to guide the ear surgeon to the best practice.

Cite this article as: Grégoire A, Geerinck K, Van Damme J. Indications of endoscopic or microscopic approach in ear surgery according to current evidence from the literature. B-ENT. 2024;20(Suppl. 1):S21-S28.