RESUMO
To compare the histopathological characteristics of acquired cholesteatoma in adults, children and recurrent cases. A retrospective analysis of 60 histopathological specimens for 60 patients aged 9 to 63 years who underwent otologic surgery for chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma was carried out at King Hussein Medical Centre between January 2006 till July 2010. Patients were divided into three groups as follows; group A patients aged > 16 years with no history of previous ear surgery, group B patients aged > 16 years and had history of previous otologic surgery for cholesteatoma and group C patients aged