Description
The specimen displays a portion of both lobes of the left lung, showing a fibrinous pleurisy. The
cut surface shows a number of nodular areas, most marked at the periphery of the lung, but present
also within its substance.
There is a small area of apparent caseation at the apex. The main bronchi are reddened but, to the
naked eye, there is no obvious ulceration.
History
A 66-year-old-man, admitted in August 1976, with a history of 3 weeks of arthralgia,
cough with mucoid sputum (1 week) and malaise and weakness (3 weeks). On examination, his
liver was palpable, and there was a pleural effusion at the right base. An X-ray showed
consolidation, with an alveolar distribution, and he developed haemoptysis. He became
increasingly anaemic (8 g.) and was in respiratory failure. Red cell casts and haemoglobin were
found in the urine, and a renal biopsy showed polyarteritis, or Wegner's granulomatosis.