Distinguishing Wegener's granulomatosis from necrotizing community acquired pneumonia: A case report and comparison of radiographic findings.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis, affecting medium to small vessels in the respiratory and renal vasculature. Patients with WG may present with clinical and radiographic features similar to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), which may delay life-saving immunosuppressive therapy. We report a 14-year-old female originally diagnosed with recalcitrant, necrotizing CAP complicated by massive pulmonary cavitations eventually proven to be WG. We also compare the radiographic features of WG and necrotizing CAP. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.