Abstract: Introduction and objectives: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously called Wegener?s granulomatosis, is a small vessel vasculitis often associated with clinical head and neck manifestations, which are sometimes the presenting symptoms of the disease. The aim of our study was to identify ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations associated with GPA and propose a work-up for the management and diagnosis for patients with suspicion or confirmed diagnosis of this ENT pathology.
Patients and methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with GPA who were seen at the Department of Otolaryngology from a tertiary public hospital in Cantabria (Spain) over a 20-year period. Clinical and laboratory data, in particular those concerning ENT manifestations, were retrieved from the patients? medical records.
Results: Twenty-five patients (age range: 30---81 years) were included in the study. Of these, 88% had ENT manifestations at some point in the course of the disease. In 28% of the cases, ENT features were the presenting manifestations. The most frequent ENT manifestations were sinonasal symptoms (52%), followed by otological manifestations (32%).
Conclusions: Patients with GPA often present with clinical ENT manifestations. Consequently, routine ENT physical examination must be performed in patients with suspected vasculitis to establish a diagnosis of GPA or to better determine the degree of organ system involvement in patients with GPA.
