Wegener's Granulomatosis Involving Nasal Cavity / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Wegener's granulomatosis is a chronic multisystem vasculitis. The otolaryngologist has an important role in the early diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis because of the high incidence of nasal involvement. In this study, we analyze seven cases of Wegener's granulomatosis involving nasal cavity and describe clinical features, laboratory findings, treatments and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Selected for this study were 7 inpatients with Wegener's granulomatosis treated at the department of otolaryngology of Korea University Medical Center from January, 1985 and December, 2002. Their clinicopathologic records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The nasal manifestations included nasal crusting, nasal obstruction, serous and bloody nasal discharge, septal perforation and saddle nose. All patients showed positive cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Wegener's granulomatosis was confirmed by the results of nasal mucosal biopsy performed in all patients. CONCLUSION: If multiple and large biopsy sites were selected properly, the diagnostic efficacy of nasal biopsy in Wegener's granulomatosis may increase and it may help early diagnosis since nasal mucosa is the most commonly affected site in Wegener's granulomatosis and nasal cavity is an easily accessible biopsy site.