Polyarteritis nodosa of the epididymis in a patient with Whipple's disease.
The case of a 55-year-old white male who developed necrotizing arteritis localized to the superior pole of the epididymis is presented. He had a history of Whipple's disease and euthyroid Graves' disease. Histopathologic section of an extratesticular mass showed a necrotizing vasculitis with giant cells; periodic acid Schiff stain for Whipple "bacilli" was negative. The combination of rare diseases in our patient suggests the possibility of a common infectious or immune etiology, perhaps mediated via circulating immune complexes.
D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000150:complications*