a surgical procedure that removes an infected portion of the mastoid bone when medical treatment is not effective

a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the mastoid bone, which is the bone directly behind the ear

a procedure to remove part of the mastoid in order to clean out infection and remove cholesteatoma

Mastoidectomy is an operation to remove disease from the bone behind the ear, when medical management is inadequate. There need not be drainage or ear pain for mastoid disease to exist. Sometimes a mastoidectomy is required in order to gain better exposure to the middle ear and attic.