[Unusual zones of osteitis detected during salvage tympanoplasty].

Three patients were noted to have unusual zones of osteitis during salvage myringoplasty. The first case involved the whole upper wall of the bony canal and was camouflaged by a weeping mucopolypoid carpet. In the second case there was a wide zone of osteitis of the posterosuperior angle of the canal and another smaller zone in the anteroinferior tympanic region. The osteitis in the third case had invaded the total mastoid cortex producing a vast plaque of superficial osteitis which could be removed without difficulty. Diffuse osteomatous reaction of the wall of the canal had resulted. In all three cases a salvage myringoplasty was possible after elimination of the osteitic lesions, although a glue ear persisted with a punctiform perforation in one patient, suggesting tubal dysfunction.