 A "recurrent cholesteatoma" is a new cholesteatoma that develops when the underlying causes of the initial cholesteatoma are still present.Such causes can include, for example, poor eustachian tube function, which results in retraction of the ear drum, and failure of the normal outward migration of skin.In a retrospective study of 345 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma operated on by the same surgeon, the overall 5-year recurrence rate was 11.8%.