Description

Histologic examination of a biopsy from the head and neck of a patient, together with knowledge of organ involvement, can be used to make the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis.


 

Affected areas in the head and neck:

(1) nose

(2) sinuses

(3) oropharynx

(4) larynx

(5) ear

(6) eye

(7) salivary glands

 

Clinical organ involvement in addition to head and neck:

(1) lung

(2) kidneys

 

Histologic findings in biopsy from head and neck which are characteristic of Wegener's granulomatosis:

(1) granulomatous inflammation

(2) necrosis

(3) vasculitis

Histologic Findings

Organ Involvement (in addition to head and neck)

Diagnosis of Wegener's Granulomatosis

all 3 histologic findings

lung and/or kidneys

diagnostic

2 of 3 findings

both lung and kidney

diagnostic

2 of 3 findings

lung or kidney

probable

1 of 3 findings

both lung and kidney

suggestive

1 of 3 findings

lung or kidney

suspicious

0 of 3 findings

lung and/or kidney

nonspecific

0 of 3 findings

neither lung nor kidney

unlikely

after Mills (1994), page 854, and Colby (1991), Table 2, page 103

 


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