发病率因地理位置和所研究人群而异。在苏格兰,1966 ~ 1986 年的年均发病率为 13/100,000。[9]Padgham N, Mills R, Christmas H. Has the increasing use of grommets influenced the frequency of surgery for cholesteatoma? J Laryngol Otol. 1989 Nov;103(11):1034-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2607198?tool=bestpractice.com 在美国爱荷华州,儿童每年的总发病率为 7/100,000。[10]Harker LA. Cholesteatoma: an incidence study. In: Cholesteatoma: first international conference. Birmingham, AL: Aesculapius Publishing Company; 1977:308-309.在以色列,外科治疗胆脂瘤的年发生率估计为 66/100,000。[11]Rakover Y, Keywan K, Rosen G. Comparison of the incidence of cholesteatoma surgery before and after using ventilation tubes for secretory otitis media. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2000 Nov 30;56(1):41-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11074114?tool=bestpractice.com来自丹麦的一项研究报告显示手术治疗胆脂瘤的年概率为 12/10,000,000。[12]Tos M. A new pathogenesis of mesotympanic (congenital) cholesteatoma. Laryngoscope. 2000 Nov;110(11):1890-7.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1097/00005537-200011000-00023/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11081605?tool=bestpractice.com手术治疗的概率可能会受医疗方案的影响。在苏格兰和爱尔兰,虽然尚未观察到与慢性中耳炎患者使用鼓膜置管或耳通气管相关的胆脂瘤发病率变化,[9]Padgham N, Mills R, Christmas H. Has the increasing use of grommets influenced the frequency of surgery for cholesteatoma? J Laryngol Otol. 1989 Nov;103(11):1034-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2607198?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Kinsella JB. Ventilation tubes and cholesteatoma. 1996 Nov-Dec;89(6):223.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8996953?tool=bestpractice.com 但芬兰和以色列等其他国家已显示,利用这些治疗方案的疾病发病率已下降。[11]Rakover Y, Keywan K, Rosen G. Comparison of the incidence of cholesteatoma surgery before and after using ventilation tubes for secretory otitis media. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2000 Nov 30;56(1):41-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11074114?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Kemppainen HO, Puhakka HJ, Laippala PJ, et al. Epidemiology and aetiology of middle ear cholesteatoma. Acta Otolaryngol. 1999;119(5):568-72.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10478597?tool=bestpractice.com
有关患病率的数据较少,但在耶路撒冷,已引证的儿童患病率高达 70/100,000。[15]Cohen D, Tamir D. The prevalence of middle ear pathologies in Jerusalem school children. Am J Otol. 1989 Nov;10(6):456-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2610232?tool=bestpractice.com在一项关于 7362 例澳大利亚土著儿童的耳部研究中,已报道的患病率为 50/100,000。[16]McCafferty GJ, Coman WB, Shaw E, et al. Cholesteatoma in Australian aboriginal children. In: Cholesteatoma: first international conference. Birmingham AL: Aesculapius Publishing Company; 1975:293-301.
男性和女性均可受累,比率为 3:2。已发现儿童胆脂瘤对咽鼓管、前中鼓室、迷路后气房和乳突尖的影响大于成人胆脂瘤。临床和组织学证据表明,儿童胆脂瘤往往更具侵袭性。[17]Nevoux J, Lenoir M, Roger G, et al. Childhood cholesteatoma. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2010 Sep;127(4):143-50.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20860924?tool=bestpractice.com