Delayed presentation of Wegener's granulomatosis with pancreatic involvement

Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis Developing Pancreatic Lesion and Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) affects small blood vessels and causes severe systemic organ injury commonly affecting the lungs and kidney. However, gastrointestinal, especially pancreatic, lesions are rare. We report the case of a 67-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with myeloperoxidase (MPO) AAV who developed pancreatic lesions and diabetes mellitus. The patient was admitted to our hospital due to fever, cough, and weight loss. He developed progressive glomerulonephritis, lung nodules, and pancreatic swelling and mass. Additionally, laboratory examination revealed positive MPO-ANCA and elevated glycated hemoglobin A1c, which were suggestive of diabetes mellitus. Renal biopsy revealed necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis and vasculitis in the small arteries. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the pancreas was performed, and histological findings suggested the possibility of pancreatic vasculitis and parenchymal injury. The patient was diagnosed with AAV, which was managed with glucocorticoids. This improved the renal function and pancreatic lesions. Furthermore, blood glucose levels improved despite treatment with glucocorticoids. These findings suggest that AAV-related pancreatic lesions worsened glycemic control. However, glucocorticoid therapy improved vasculitis and pancreatic lesions, which resulted in improved glycemic control.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting as pancreatic disease

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare necrotising small vessel vasculitis typically associated with oronasal, pulmonary and renal manifestations. Pancreatic disease is an exceedingly rare initial presentation and is associated with delayed diagnosis and rapid progression. We discuss a 66-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain, elevated lipase and radiographic evidence of focal pancreatitis. She had no relevant medical history and no lithiasis seen on imaging. Pertinent findings include strawberry gingivitis, positive proteinase-antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (98% specificity) and focal nodular parenchymal lung lesions on CT chest-all of which are consistent with a diagnosis of GPA. She was promptly started on high-dose steroids which resulted in significant clinical and biochemical improvement. Cyclophosphamide was added once biopsy confirmed the absence of malignancy. In order to optimise the clinical outcomes of GPA, physicians must keep a wide differential and high index of suspicion in the setting of unexplained pancreatitis with systemic features.

Pancreatic Head Mass: A Rare Manifestation of Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis may rarely present as an inflammatory pancreatic mass and mimic pancreatic cancer. We report a 73-year-old man who presented with fever and weight loss. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated a mass in the pancreatic head along with multiple cavitary pulmonary nodules. Our differential included metastatic pancreatic cancer vs an autoimmune process. Positive cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies coupled with the lung biopsy findings established the diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis, a very rare cause of pancreatic masses. After completion of immunosuppressive therapy, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated no evidence of a pancreatic mass. More studies are required to establish the management of these masses.