Objective To analyze the value of middle ear endoscopy in patients with middle ear cholesteatoma. Methods The clinical data of 61 patients with unilateral middle ear cholesteatoma were retrospectively analyzed. All of them underwent surgery. Among them, 31 underwent otoendoscopic surgery, which was recorded as group A; 30 underwent conventional tympanoplasty, which was recorded as group B. The changes of air-bone conduction, airway auditory threshold, clinical effect and complications were compared between the two groups before and 1 month after operation. Results One month after operation, the difference of air-bone conduction and airway auditory threshold in group A were (8.5±1.5) dB and (21.2 ±2.4) dB, were lower than those before operation (t=38.195, P<0.001;t= 27.739,P<0.001), group B were (13.4±2.3) dB and (25.6±2.7) dB, respectively, lower than those before operation (t= 23.510,P<0.001;t=21.575,P<0.001), one month later, the air-bone conduction and airway hearing threshold in group A were lower than those in group B (t=9.888,P=0.000;t=6.732,P<0.001); The difference was statistically significant in clinical effect distribution between group A and group B (Z=6.102,P= 0.014), and the total effective rate of group A was 100.00%, which was higher than that of group B 83.33% (χ²= 5.628,P=0.018); the total incidence of complications in group A was 3.23%, lower than that in group B 20.00% (χ²= 4.223,P=0.040). Conclusion Endoscopic ear surgery may improve the air-bone conduction and airway auditory threshold in patients with middle ear cholesteatoma, which is more effective and safe than conventional tympanoplasty.