[ENT diagnosis of Wegener's syndrome]

In spite of its rarity Wegener's granulomatosis is of great concern to be otolaryngologist because the malady may start in the territory of the speciality, challenging the actual diagnosis, owing to the inespecificity of the symptomatology, to its torpid evolution, as well as the potential harmfullness of process. This paper inform of the retrospective study done by the AA. in the last ten years, about 4 cases diagnosed and treated by them. All the possible diagnostic measures are contemplated: clinical and histopathological findings and the newly introduced tests for anticytoplasmatic antibodies against the neutrophiles. A review of the bibliography on the subject is adjoined. All the considered patients consulted at the beginning with the otolaryngologist. Diagnostic suspicion aroused only in patients with nasal complaints (50 percent) and were not under suspicion those with ear symptoms. Positive diagnosis were confirmed in all cases through renal biopsies. Nasal biopsies resulted negatives. When the syndrome started in low aged patients the evolutive course showed deleterious and the affected died after a short term of few months. In more aged a survival of 8-9 yeas was reached.