ENT Manifestations of Wegener`s Granulomatosis

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out the presenting features, diagnostic problems, treatment, and prognosis of Wegener`s granulomatosis (WG), with special reference to ENT manifestations. Study Design: It was a prospective descriptive study. Study Setting: The study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, from 1st March1999 to 30th Sep 2001. Results: The ten patients included in this study comprised of six males and four females, with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The age of patients ranged from 16 years to 55 years with an average age of 38.5 years. The most common presentation in our patients was due to nasal involvement of disease. Nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and rhinorrhoea was seen in 80% of patients with WG. Next common symptom was headache (60%) followed by other symptoms Two patients had ear pain and conductive deafness along with nasal symptoms. One patient in addition to nasal symptoms mentioned presented with saddle nose deformity. One patient presented with hoarseness and progressive stridor, having subglottic stenosis as an isolated finding. Conclusion: Most common symptoms in WG localized to ENT region are nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea and epistaxis. Biopsy and c-ANCA have key role in diagnosis of WG. ESR has a good prognostic relevance