[Middle ear tuberculosis (author's transl)].

With the decrease in tuberculosis in general that of the middle ear has become a rarity, such that it is almost unknown to the younger generation of doctors. Nevertheless one must consider this diagnosis in all relapsing and treatment-resistant inflammations of the middle ear, especially when tympanoplasty procedures have been unsuccessful. Bacteriological findings are less reliable than histological proof and therefore examination of granulation tissue is always indicated. A precise history into earlier tuberculosis is important, since the disease is mostly disseminated haematologically. Two clinical examples with pathological descriptions are presented. In the first case fresh exudative disease similar to that of tubotympanitis occurred and quickly passed on to a chronic destructive middle ear inflammatory process. One year previously the patient had pleurisy. A complete cure followed surgery and antituberculosis therapy. In the second case a chronic proliferative and destructive inflammatory process was present with obviously less favourable reparative properties since two tympanoplasties were ineffectively performed.