[Hearing impairment and earache as initial symptoms of Wegener's granulomatosis]

Wegener's Granulomatosis occurs rarely. It is an autoimmune disease and as such it is a special form of panarteriitis nodosa. Manifestations are seen in various organs. Granulomatous lesions in the nose, paranasal sinuses and pharynx are very characteristic and often mark the beginning of the disease. However, a painful otitis media with combined hearing loss may also be the first sign of this generalised rheumatic disease. By describing three cases we document clinical constellations of results and summarise them in tabular form. The knowledge of these constellations prevents confusing this disease with otitis media, tuberculosis and sudden deafness.