Giant-cell granuloma of the respiratory tract (wegener's granulomatosis)

Abstract

Wegener’s granulomatosis is an uncommon syndrome in which giant-cell granulomata in the respiratory tract occur together with granulomatous and vascular lesions resembling those in polyarteritis nodosa. In this work, which is based on a study of 10 cases, and 46 others selected from the literature, the clinical and pathological features are described and tabulated. The disease is clearly a separate entity, differing both clinically and in the character and distribution of the lesions from similar conditions, such as polyarteritis nodosa and malignant granuloma. It begins as a progressive ulceration of unknown aetiology in the respiratory tract. Sooner or later widespread lesions, the result of a hypersensitivity reaction, complete the disease picture. Treatment of the lesions of the respiratory tract by radiotherapy has been successful in a few cases. © 1958, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.