title: The involvement of upper airway in Wegener's granulomatosis - about four cases.
abstract: The authors present four cases of Wegener's granulomatosis patients with multiorganic manifestation forms, but with a prevalent involvement in upper-airway. Granulomatosis diseases of the nose include bacterial infections (rhinoscleroma, tuberculosis, syphilis, lupus, and leprosy), fungal infections (rhinosporidiosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis, candidosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis) and diseases with unspecified etiology (Wegener's granulomatosis, mediofacial malignant granuloma, and sarcoidosis). We consider an interesting experience regarding Wegener's granulomatosis due to its rarity, being an autoimmune systemic disease, with continuous evolution and multiorganic involvement. The beginning of the disease is like upper airway affection, a kind of "persistent cold", being difficult to differentiate it from a common cold in the head, with a prolonged evolution. It is important to mention that we establish the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis starting with Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) clinical exam, followed by other tests and investigations realized in our Clinic and completed with specialty tests (nephrology, internal medicine and dermatology), meaning that we need a close cooperation with these medical specialties. All the patients presented multiorganic involvement. Notably significant for our four cases is the prolonged evolution in a stable condition in one patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; marioara.poenaru@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristian Andrei
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sarău
authors.forename: Daniel Florin
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lighezan
authors.forename: Ion Caius
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Doroş
authors.forename: Eugen Horaţiu
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ştefănescu
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iovănescu
authors.forename: Nicolae Constantin
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Balica
authors.forename: Ioana Delia
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Horhat
authors.forename: Marioara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poenaru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000473:pathology; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology