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.