[Thyroid involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report]

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Endocrinology
• Pathology

Background:

• Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis primarily affecting small to medium-sized vessels.
• Typical WG manifestations involve the upper airways, lungs, and kidneys.
• Endocrine involvement, especially of the thyroid gland, is exceptionally rare in WG.

Observation:

• A 56-year-old woman presented with limited WG.
• Clinical manifestations included sinusitis, pulmonary nodules, diabetes insipidus, and a thyroid nodule.
• Histopathological examination of the thyroid nodule revealed necrotizing vasculitis with granulomatous lesions.

Findings:

• The patient's thyroid nodule was diagnosed as WG.
• The case demonstrates an unusual presentation of WG with significant endocrine involvement.
• Successful treatment was achieved using corticosteroids alone.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of WG's potential organ involvement.
• It underscores the importance of considering WG in patients with unexplained endocrine dysfunction.
• The findings suggest corticosteroids may be effective in managing limited WG with thyroid involvement.