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Wegener's granulomatosis masquerading as pancreatic carcinoma

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Summary

A 62-year-old male presented with painless jaundice and solitary pulmonary and pancreatic masses. An extensive evaluation revealed Wegener's granulomatosis as the etiology. His pancreatic mass and jaundice responded to temporary stenting and therapy with cyclophosphamide and prednisone. While pancreatic vasculitis in Wegener's granulomatosis has been noted previously in autopsy studies, symptomatic involvement has been reported only once previously and never as a presenting feature of the disease. The antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) assay proved useful in establishing the diagnosis. Necrotizing vasculidities can mimic pancreatic carcinoma and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USNR, Pulmonary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Ward 5A Portsmouth Naval Hospital, 23708, Portsmouth, Virginia

    Kevin M. O'Neil MD, MC, Dan M. Jones MD & J. Mark Lawson MD

  2. USNR, Gastrointestinal Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Ward 5A Portsmouth Naval Hospital, 23708, Portsmouth, Virginia

    Kevin M. O'Neil MD, MC, Dan M. Jones MD & J. Mark Lawson MD

Authors
  1. Kevin M. O'Neil MD, MC
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  2. Dan M. Jones MD
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  3. J. Mark Lawson MD
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The opinions expressed are the private views of the authors and should not be construed to represent the view of the Navy or Department of Defense.

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O'Neil, K.M., Jones, D.M. & Lawson, J.M. Wegener's granulomatosis masquerading as pancreatic carcinoma. Digest Dis Sci 37, 702–704 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296425

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296425

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