Glycoconjugates play an important role in differentiation and maturation of various cells in tissue undergoing constant renewal. Different binding pattern of lectin related to sequential maturation of epidermis had been reported in human skin. In this study, we attempt to compare the binding patterns of lectin between canal skin and cholesteatoma epithelium. 20 cases of human acquired cholesteatoma epithelium were obtained during middle ear surgery. All specimens were fixed in 10% formalin for 24 hours and 4 μm serial sections were cut. Deparaffinized sections were immersed in 0.3% H₂O₂ dissolved in methanol for 30 minutes and washed with phosphate buffer saline(PBS). Each section was incubated with 1% bovine serum albumin for 5 minutes at room temperature and then biotinylated lectins for 30 minutes at moist chamber respectively in ABC method. Then specimens were immersed in 0.05% DAB and observed under light microscope. The results were as follows : 1) Canal skin was labelled with most of lectins except UEA-I in basal cell layer and WGA in keratin layer. 2) Squamous and granular cell layer of cholesteatoma were almost labelled with lectins and showed similar to that of canal skin. 3) Basal cell layer of cholesteatoma showed low binding tendency to lectins. We suggest that there is missing or modification of certain carbohydrates in the cholesteatoma epithelium and this might cause the characteristic differentiation pattern of cholesteatoma. However, to clarify the significance of these results, further study according to the individual conditions such as the kinds of cholesteatoma and severity of infection will be needed.