Temporal Bone Pathology in Wegener's Granulomatosis

Abstract

The temporal bones from a 44-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having Wegener's granulomatosis are described. Her audiogram showed severe perceptive deafness of both ears. The right temporal bone had many interesting changes. The tympanic cavity, mastoid air cells and eustachian tube were filled with granulation tissue. The crura of the stapes were damaged and foot plate was covered and thinned by granulation tissue. The granulation tissue invaded the round window niche. The round window membrane was swollen and projected into the scala tympani. Reissner's membrane and basilar membrane were torn at the basal and middle turns of the right cochlea, and endolymph-perilymph fistulae were noted. Severe degeneration of the hair cells of the organ of Corti at the sites of the fistulae, and slight degeneration of the stria vascularis were seen.