title: Head and neck manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis.
abstract: Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing granulomatous angiitis that presents the classic ELK triad of ear, nose, throat (E), lung (L), and kidney (K) involvement. Its potential rapid and fatal outcome makes the early recognition--before irreversible organ involvement occurs--mandatory. The aetiology is still unknown. Today, immunosuppressive therapy makes WG a treatable disease with a chronically relapsing course. The otorhinolaryngologist plays an important role in early diagnosis of WG, because in up to 95% of the patients initial WG symptoms are observed in the head and neck region. The majority of these patients show nasal or sinunasal involvement. Common manifestations are sinusitis, crusting of the nose, and development of saddle nose deformity. Other head and neck problems are middle and inner ear symptoms and subglottic stenosis. Follow up and activity assessment of the disease are also important roles to play for the otorhinolarygologist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany. gottschlich@hno.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gottschlich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ambrosch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kramkowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laudien
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buchelt
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellmich
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents