CASE REPORT

A case of Wegener's granulomatosis associated with progressive dysphagia owing to esophageal involvement

Authors

Toshimasa Yamaguchi¹, Katsunobu Yoshioka², Mami Ueda², Takashi Morikawa², Keiko Yamagami², Yoshio Konishi², Toshihiko Sato², Yasuko Kawasaki³ and Masahito Imanishi²

1. Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City Juso Hospital, 2-12-27 Nonaka-kita, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka 532-0034, Japan
2. Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan
3. Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan

Received:

16 April 2007

Accepted:

10 July 2007

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Abstract

A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with progressive dysphagia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed esophageal stenosis and computed tomographic scan revealed symmetrical wall thickness of the thoracic esophagus. Biopsies findings from a lesion were unremarkable. However, a definitive diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis was based on positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against proteinase 3 and otorhinolaryngological manifestations. Esophageal complications are rarely reported in Wegener's granulomatosis; however, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of esophageal involvement.

Key words

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) - Esophageal stenosis - Wegener's granulomatosis