Raise Your Grade Point Average

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Identifier walsh_2013_s4_c1
Title Raise Your Grade Point Average
Creator Hilary M. Grabe; Jeffrey L. Myers; Douglas J. Quint; Victor M. Elner; Jonathan D. Trobe
Affiliation (HMG) (VME) (JDT) University of Michigan/Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI; (JLM) (VME) University of Michigan/Department of Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI; (DJQ) University of Michigan/Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Ann Arbor, MI; (JDT) University of Michigan/Department of Neurology, Ann Arbor, MI
Description Bronchoscopy yielded a transbronchial specimen showing necrotizing granulomatous inflammation including distinctive granulomatous microsabscesses. Stains for fungal and AFB organisms were negative. Several days later, ANCA and proteinase 3 antibody were positive. The diagnosis is granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener's granulomatosis. It caused scleritis and secondary globe rupture, the nasopharyngeal/intracranial mass with mononeuritis multiplex (cranial nerves 7-11), and lung lesions. He was treated with prednisone 60 mg daily and rituximab 1 gram every 2 weeks for 2 doses. One month later, proteinase 3 antibody index was negative and chest CT showed interval decrease in the multiple mass-like opacities. Dedicated skull base and neck CT re-demonstrated the nasopharyngeal/intracranial mass relatively unchanged. The diagnosis of GPA appears obvious in retrospect! But there were many confounding factors in this case. The patient was cachectic because of cocaine abuse and difficulty swallowing. The nasopharyngeal/intracranial mass was large and eroding bone, suggesting neoplasm. Although GPA can cause this, intracranial lesions are rare and one of this size is extremely rare (1). The cavitary lung lesions certainly occur in GPA, but because of the cranial findings, neoplasm and infection were the primary considerations. The ruptured globe, which in retrospect probably resulted from scleritis, was superinfected and scarred, making the diagnosis of GPA difficult. The nasopharyngeal biopsy was interpreted as chronic inflammation, although in retrospect it did show small zones of "dirty" necrosis. Nasopharyngeal biopsies in GPA are known to be often falsely negative (2, 3). Even the bronchoscopic biopsy was not classic for GPA, missing a convincing vasculitis.
History Two years earlier, he had had persistent hearing loss in the left ear attributed elsewhere to infection. One year later, he developed left facial weakness diagnosed as Bell's palsy, treated with corticosteroids without recovery. A few months later, he became hoarse and had difficulty swallowing.
Pathology Diagnosis is granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener's granulomatosis. It caused scleritis and secondary globe rupture, the nasopharyngeal/intracranial mass with mononeuritis multiplex (cranial nerves 7-11), and lung lesions.
Disease/Diagnosis Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis)
Clinical Neurologic examination disclosed left hypesthesia of all three trigeminal divisions, left facial weakness, left neurosensory hearing loss, and left sternocleidomastoid and trapezius weakness.
Presenting Symptom A cocaine-abusing 51 year-old man complained in May 2012 of left eye decreased vision and pain for several months.
Neuroimaging CT Scan; MRI
Treatment Prednisone; Rituximab
Date 2013-02
References 1. Murphy JM, et al. Wegener granulomatosis: MR imaging findings in brain and meninges. Radiology, 213, 794-799, 1999. 2. Colby TV, Tazelaar HD, Specks U, DeRemee RA. Nasal biopsy in Wegener's granulomatosis. Human Pathology , 22, 101-104, 1991. 3. Del Buono EA, Flint A. Diagnostic usefulness of nasal biopsy in Wegener's granulomatosis. Human Pathology, 22, 107-110, 1991.
Language eng
Format video/mp4
Type Image/MovingImage
Source 45th Annual Frank Walsh Society Meeting
Relation is Part of NANOS Annual Meeting 2013
Collection Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library: Walsh Session Annual Meeting Archives: https://novel.utah.edu/Walsh/
Publisher North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
Holding Institution Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah
Rights Management Copyright 2013. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit: https://NOVEL.utah.edu/about/copyright
ARK ark:/87278/s6cv7fb2
Setname ehsl_novel_fbw
ID 179241
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6cv7fb2
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