Tympanoplasty and tuberculosis of the middle ear

This report concerns 6 cases of middle ear tuberculosis. Typical clinical signs for this infection nowadays consist in a pale-coloured mucosa, spontaneous facial paresis, pneumatization of the mastoid and in a changing performation of the tympanic membrane. These signs can occur single or in combination. Under a specific chemotherapeutic treatment even in tuberculous infection of the middle ear tympanoplasty can be performed without danger for the newly transplanted tympanic membrane. One should consider tuberculous infection especially in cases when for apparently inexplicable reasons necrosis of the transplant occurs postoperatively.