Wegener's granulomatosis presenting as mediastinal soft tissue mass invading the tracheal wall

Clin Rheumatol. 2000;19(6):495-8. doi: 10.1007/s100670070016.

Abstract

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a clinicopathologic entity of unknown cause characterised by a necrotising granulomatous vasculitis affecting multiple organs, especially the upper and lower respiratory tracts, lung and kidney. The lung is the most frequently, and sometimes the only involved organ. Single or multiple nodules, with or without cavitation, are the most common pulmonary manifestations in WG, but mediastinal involvement is atypical. The sole tracheal involvement is rare and hilar and mediastinal involvement has been thought not to be part of the clinical feature. We experienced a rare case of WG presenting as paratracheal mediastinal lesions with tracheal wall invasion, which responded dramatically to corticosteroid treatment. We present this case with a review of the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / complications*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / drug therapy
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Mediastinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Mediastinal Diseases / etiology*
  • Mediastinal Diseases / pathology*
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Radiography
  • Steroids / administration & dosage
  • Trachea / diagnostic imaging
  • Trachea / pathology*
  • Tracheal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Tracheal Diseases / etiology*
  • Tracheal Diseases / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Steroids
  • Methotrexate