title: The diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis from transbronchial biopsy specimens.
abstract: It is widely believed that thoracotomy is necessary to obtain biopsy specimens adequate for the histopathologic demonstration of pulmonary Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). We report five patients with WG who were diagnosed by transbronchial biopsy (TBB). In three cases, a diagnosis of WG was made by TBB alone. In the other two patients, subsequent open lung biopsies confirmed the TBB findings but did not add essential diagnostic information. Our experience suggests TBB may be appropriate as the initial diagnostic procedure in selected cases of suspected WG. This approach requires an understanding of the diverse histologic features of WG and the correlation of clinical and pathologic data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305-5236.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lombard
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Colby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone; D007213:Indomethacin