A 34-year-old man developed a cholesteatoma of the inner ear and presented to his ENT surgeon. If these benign tumors aren't cared for and treated, they can destroy the bones of hearing as they grow, especially when the ear is infected or if water gets into the middle ear with other infections. They can also lead to brain abscess. You need a surgical microscope to properly inspect and cleanse a cholesteatoma, especially when there is infection. One of the known risks associated with this procedure is injury to the facial nerve.