Jong Woo Chung
Jong Woo Chung, MD, is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine. Dr. Chung and his colleagues lead multiple clinical research projects focusing on sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implantation, middle ear implants, chronic ear disease, and pediatric otitis media. His recent research interests have expanded into robotic-assisted ear surgery, artificial intelligence applications in otology, and endoscopic ear surgery.
Dr. Chung earned his medical degree from Seoul National University College of Medicine, where he also completed his residency and Ph.D. training in Otolaryngology. Following advanced training in general otology, neurotology, skull base surgery, and cochlear implantation, he joined Asan Medical Center, where he further developed programs in skull base surgery, audiology, endoscopic ear surgery, and cochlear implantation. He also initiated basic research on noise-induced hearing loss.
Dr. Chung has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles indexed in SCI/SCIE journals. He has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Korean Audiological Society (2014–2016), President of the Korean Skull Base Society (2017), and President of the Korean Association of Institutional Review Boards (2020–2023). He currently serves as President of the upcoming World Congress of Audiology 2026, which will be held in Seoul.
Sessions
Title: Transcanal Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery: Advantages, Limitations, and Pushing the Technical Boundaries
Objective: Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery (TEES) has revolutionized the management of middle ear cholesteatoma by offering unprecedented access to hidden recesses. This presentation aims to evaluate the clinical advantages, inherent drawbacks, and technical limitations of exclusive endoscopic cholesteatoma surgery, while highlighting contemporary boundary-pushing techniques that expand its indications in complex cases.
Methods: The surgical principles and clinical outcomes of TEES in cholesteatoma eradication were systematically analyzed. The focus was placed on the direct visualization of critical areas such as the sinus tympani, facial recess, and anterior epitympanum. Additionally, the presentation reviews advanced technical solutions—including customized structural graft modifications and modified attic reconstructions—designed to overcome traditional endoscopic constraints and prevent retraction pockets.
Results: The primary advantage of TEES in cholesteatoma treatment is its superior, wide-angle panoramic visualization, which facilitates complete disease eradication from deep recesses without the morbidity of extensive canalplasty or retroauricular mastoidectomy. This minimally invasive transcanal approach significantly reduces postoperative pain and ensures excellent cosmetic outcomes. However, the loss of binocular depth perception and the strict requirement for one-handed surgery remain major drawbacks, particularly during active bleeding. While narrow pediatric external auditory canals traditionally limit instrument maneuverability, contemporary boundary-pushing innovations—such as the utilization of highly pliable, customized annular chondroperichondrial grafts—successfully overcome structural limitations, preventing post-operative retractions while facilitating single-handed graft management even in complex reconstructions.
Conclusion: TEES is a highly effective, minimally invasive alternative that offers unmatched visualization for complete cholesteatoma eradication. While the one-handed learning curve demands structured training, this presentation underlines that understanding technical limits, while actively implementing innovations that push these boundaries, is paramount for expanding patient selection and achieving long-term surgical success without recurrence.
Panel presentation difficult CI surgery