Wegener's granulomatosis in childhood

Acquired Nonneoplastic Neonatal and Pediatric Diseases

The lung biopsy is an established procedure to procure a pathologic diagnosis in a child with a suspected pneumonic process of undetermined etiology. Improvements in pediatric anesthesia and surgery have reduced the operative complications to a minimum. A biopsy can usually be taken through a small intercostal incision when localization is not especially important in a patient with diffuse changes (see Chapter 1). The alternative method for tissue sampling is the endoscopic transbronchial biopsy. There is less risk to the patient, but the specimen is smaller and crush artifacts from the instrument are more common.

Chest CT findings in pediatric Wegener's granulomatosis

BACKGROUND

Although pulmonary involvement occurs in the majority of children and adolescents with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), relatively little has been published regarding the CT imaging manifestations in this group of patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency and types of chest CT abnormalities in active pediatric WG (pWG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was a retrospective examination of 29 chest CT examinations performed at diagnosis (n=14) and during disease flares (n=15) in 18 children.

RESULTS

The most common abnormalities were nodules (seen in 90% of examinations), ground-glass opacification (52%), and air-space opacification (45%). Of examinations with nodules, 73% demonstrated nodules >5 mm in diameter and 69% demonstrated more than five nodules; 17% had cavitary lesions. The only abnormality with a significant difference in prevalence between diagnosis and disease flares was air-space opacification, present in 71% and 20%, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In accordance with the findings of published adult studies and at variance with those of prior pediatric studies, our findings indicate that chest CT abnormalities in active pWG are frequent, most commonly comprising nodules and ground-glass opacification, which may be difficult to detect on plain radiography. We therefore advocate the routine use of chest CT for all affected patients, both at the time of presentation and during disease flares.

Imaging of Wegener's granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis is an uncommon multisystemic disorder of unknown aetiology. It is characterized histopathologically by necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis. Most commonly this involves the upper and lower respiratory tract, with pulmonary involvement occurring at some stage of the disease in almost all patients. However, many other organ systems can also be affected including the kidneys, orbits and central nervous system. For this pictorial review, we have assessed the imaging of 155 patients over a 10-year period in order to illustrate characteristic and some of the more unusual imaging features of Wegener's granulomatosis.

High-resolution CT of pediatric lung disease

High-resolution CT in children remains a technically challenging procedure, both to perform optimally and to interpret correctly. Although much remains to be learned about its optimal application, it is apparent that often confusing or nonspecific chest radiographs are clarified and a much clearer understanding is being gained about the diagnosis and evolution of both common and unusual pediatric lung diseases. As new therapies become available for these disorders, and CT becomes faster and easier to perform, it will become increasingly used not only for more accurate diagnosis but also for better evaluation of effects of therapy.

Acute onset of Wegener's granulomatosis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage treated successfully by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Wegener's granulomatosis is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis involving the upper airway, lungs, and kidneys. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare and life-threatening presentation of Wegener's granulomatosis. We report on a previously healthy 13-yr-old boy who presented with fulminant pulmonary hemorrhage leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome and was found to have Wegener's granulomatosis. The diagnosis was based on clinical, radiologic, serologic, and histologic manifestations. The therapeutic challenges and the modalities of support to sustain life until clinical remission are presented.

Otitis media as a sign of Wegener's granulomatosis in childhood

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a rare disease among paediatric patients. Chronic otitis media with or without facial nerve dysfunction is a known manifestation of the disease among adults. A case of a 15-year-old boy with WG, whose initial symptoms were acute otitis media and facial nerve paralysis, is presented. The otorhinolaryngological manifestations, as well as diagnostic and current treatment modalities in paediatric patients with WG, are discussed.

Pulmonary haemorrhagic syndromes in children

Pulmonary haemorrhage in children is rare and may be either focal or diffuse, idiopathic or associated with an underlying disease. Focal bleeding is usually associated with congenital anomalies or localized acquired disease. Many of the disorders causing diffuse alveolar haemorrhage appear to be immunologically mediated. Treatment modalities include management of the underlying disease and the use of corticosteroids, chloroquine and/or cytotoxic drugs and induce remission in more than half of the patients with diffuse haemorrhage.

CT presentation of Wegener's granulomatosis in a child: rapidly progressive changes of pulmonary nodules to cavities

We present a child with Wegener's granulomatosis who showed lung lesions progressing from nodules to cavities within a 1-month period on CT.

Pulmonary renal syndrome in childhood: a report of twenty-one cases and a review of the literature

In adults, the term specific pulmonary renal syndrome describes disorders with pulmonary and glomerular manifestations and includes Wegener's granulomatosis, Goodpasture disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Nonspecific pulmonary renal syndrome refers to either pulmonary disease complicating glomerular disease, or glomerular diseases following pulmonary disease. Since little is known regarding pulmonary renal syndrome in childhood, we reviewed the charts of 21 pediatric patients with pulmonary renal syndromes treated by the Department of Pediatrics, University of Bern between 1991 and 1998; we also reviewed the pediatric literature that deals with specific pulmonary renal syndromes. Specific pulmonary renal syndrome was noted in 3 children with systemic vasculitis (Wegener granulomatosis, N = 2; microscopic polyangiitis, N = 1) and 2 with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nonspecific pulmonary renal syndrome was observed in 12 patients with pulmonary edema (N = 9), pulmonary thromboembolism (N = 2), and pulmonary infection (N = 1) complicating the course of a glomerular disease, and in 4 children with a pulmonary disease followed by a glomerular disease. Review of the literature disclosed 52 cases of specific pulmonary renal syndrome other than systemic lupus erythematosus: Wegener granulomatosis (N = 28), Goodpasture disease (N = 13), and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (N = 11). In addition, hemolytic uremic syndrome complicated pneumococcal pneumonia in 32 cases. We conclude that pulmonary renal syndromes need to be looked for in childhood. Apart from Wegener granulomatosis, Goodpasture disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus, Henoch-Schönlein purpura and hemolytic-uremic syndrome occasionally have both pulmonary and renal features.

[Features of tomodensitometry in the development of pleuropulmonary lesions related to Wegener's granulomatosis]

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine CT scan value for the follow-up of patients with pleuropulmonary lesions related to Wegener's granulomatosis.

METHODS

Retrospective study of ten patients who were diagnosed with diffuse Wegener's granulomatosis including lung involvement and for whom mean follow-up was 23 months (range 4-61).

RESULTS

During early stages of the disease, the most common finding was the existence of either nodules (90% of the patients) or consolidations (100% of the patients). CT scan controls showed that nodules disappeared within 6 months in 60% of patients and had completely resolved after 12 months. Linear opacities relating to traction developed, replacing subpleural nodules. A pneumothorax occurred in two patients who had excavated subpleural nodules. Consolidations disappeared in 44% of the patients, most frequently within 4 months. When consolidations persisted, they were replaced by alveolar infiltrates accompanied by bronchiolectasies and linear opacities. Regarding either nodules or consolidations, CT features related to relapse were similar to those of initial lesions in 40% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

The main features of pleuropulmonary lesions relating to Wegener's granulomatosis were subpleural nodules that either disappeared with, however, subsequent linear opacities sequelae, or were complicated by the occurrence of pneumothorax.