Answered by AI, Verified by Human Experts
Final answer:A cystic mass comprising epithelial cells and cholesterol is known as a cholesteatoma, which is a noncancerous growth that can develop in the middle ear due to chronic infections or Eustachian tube dysfunction. So, the correct option is a.Explanation:A cystic mass comprising epithelial cells and cholesterol is referred to as a cholesteatoma. Cholesteatomas are abnormal, noncancerous growths, often developing in the middle ear behind the eardrum. They arise due to chronic ear infections or from the dysfunction of the Eustachian tube. Unlike the other options listed, cholesteatomas are characterized by the accumulation of dead skin cells and cholesterol, which can lead to hearing loss, infections, or more serious complications if left untreated.As for the other options, glomus tumors and paragangliomas are types of neoplasms associated with the glomus body and paraganglia, respectively, and are not typically described by the presence of epithelial cells and cholesterol. A schwannoma is a tumor of the nerve sheath cells and also does not match the description of a cystic mass comprising epithelial cells and cholesterol....