Granulomatous Diseases of Temporal Bone

Granulomatous diseases are a group of disorders characterized by the presence of granulomas, which are organized collections of macrophages, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells that produce chronic focal inflammation. Granulomas may develop as a primary consequence of a disease or as a secondary association with a disease. It consists of diseases caused by a variety of etiologies including altered immunologic, infectious, reactive, neoplastic, idiopathic, and hereditary factors. This chapter will briefly review the presentation of granulomatous diseases involving the temporal bone and the common management of a number of cases. Granulomatous disease of the temporal bone may be the initial manifestation of a broader spectrum of symptoms throughout the body. The clinical presentations are localized in the absence of systemic signs of infection. The main symptoms of temporal bone granulomatous disease are otorrhea, hearing loss, and occasionally tinnitus.