This type of surgery may have different names depending on the extent of chronic middle ear inflammation, including atticotomy, atticoantrotomy, antromastoidotomy, tympanoantromastoidotomy, and radical mastoid surgery.
The procedure involves clearing all areas of the middle ear affected by abnormal tissue, including cholesteatoma, granulation tissue, and damaged mucous membranes. This eliminates the source of chronic infection within the ear.