[Wegener's granulomatosis--a disease of many faces]

Pneumonol Alergol Pol. 2002;70(11-12):594-600.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

We describe a case of Wegener's granulomatosis. The first symptoms included severe headache subsiding only after administration of dexamethasone. Despite a great number of diagnostic tests involving CT and MR of the head, the cause of the headache remained unknown. Because a chest x-ray revealed a nodule in the right lung, the patient was sent to our Clinic. Reevaluation of CT and MR pointed to a massive ethmoid sinusitis. 7-days' course of antibiotics and corticosteroids induced remission of the lung nodule. Several diagnoses were made: neoplasm, bacterial ethmoid sinusitis, trigeminal neuritis, thrombotic cavernous sinusitis and tuberculosis. Results of the ethmoid sinus biopsy together with a high c-ANCA concentration gave the correct diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / blood
  • Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ethmoid Sinusitis / diagnosis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / diagnosis*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / drug therapy
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Maxillary Sinusitis / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic