Diagnostic value of biopsies in identifying cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-negative localized Wegener's granulomatosis presenting primarily with sinonasal disease.

Abstract

A substantial proportion of Wegener's disease (WG) patients present with localized disease of the upper airways, i.e., sinonasal and other ear/nose/throat (ENT) symptoms. Because of the oligosymptomatic presentation a timely diagnosis of this potentially fatal disease is challenging. This study evaluates diagnostic peculiarities between WG in its localized and generalized form of the disease.