Nodular Pulmonary Vasculitis in a Twelve-Year-Old Boy

Abstract

A 12-year-old boy presented with left shoulder pain during physical exercise and complained of uncommon sweating and fatigue. Diagnostic evaluation revealed a solitary pulmonary nodule in the left upper lobe. All laboratory values were within normal limits, except for an elevated level of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against myeloperoxidase (p-ANCA). Surgery was performed, and pathological examination showed a localized granulomatous vasculitis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against affinity purified proteinase 3 (p-ANCA) concentrations returned to baseline within 6 months, and the patient has done well during a follow-up period of 2 years. While nodular vasculitis is known to occur in Wegener's granulomatosis, to the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first c-ANCA negative primary pulmonary vasculitis in childhood. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.