Wegener’s granulomatosis in the thyroid mimicking a tumour

Abstract  Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic vasculitis characterised by the presence of necrotizing granulomas and classically
manifests as a triad of upper and lower respiratory tract involvement along with glomerulonephritis. Other rather unusual
presentations of WG include ocular, salivary gland, cutaneous, gastrointestinal and cardiac involvement. We report a case
in a 51-year-old woman suffering from WG with positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies and antibodies directed against
proteinase 3. Under maintenance therapy, the patient developed two thyroid nodules suspicious for malignancy which led to
thyroidectomy. Postoperative histological examination revealed a tumour-forming WG mimicking a malignant thyroid tumour. We
conclude that, although extremely rare, Wegener’s granulomatosis should be added to the list of differential diagnoses of
tumours of the thyroid gland.

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s00428-007-0573-6Authors
K. J. Schmitz, University of Duisburg-Essen Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen Hufelandstrasse 55 45122 Essen GermanyM. W. Baumgaertel, Alfried Krupp Hospital Department of Medicine II Essen GermanyC. Schmidt, Alfried Krupp Hospital Department of General, Trauma and Vascular Surgery Essen GermanyS. Y. Sheu, University of Duisburg-Essen Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen Hufelandstrasse 55 45122 Essen GermanyM. Betzler, Alfried Krupp Hospital Department of General, Trauma and Vascular Surgery Essen GermanyK. W. Schmid, University of Duisburg-Essen Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen Hufelandstrasse 55 45122 Essen Germany

Journal Virchows ArchivOnline ISSN 1432-2307Print ISSN 0945-6317 (Source: Virchows Archiv)