Cite this page: Mansouri J. Granulomatous inflammation. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/spleengranulomatousinflammation.html. Accessed March 22nd, 2023.
Definition / general
- Common in splenectomy specimens
- Either:
- Large active granulomas with epithelioid and Langhans giant cells, with or without central necrosis
- Widespread small, sarcoid-like epithelioid granulomas with rare giant cells and no necrosis
- Inactive granulomas with fibrosis and calcification
- Granulomas usually associated with systemic disease involving liver, bone marrow and lymph nodes; also chronic uremia, IgA deficiency, infectious mononucleosis
- Granulomas may be present in hairy cell leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, although granuloma itself does not mean spleen is involved by tumor (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1977;101:518)
- Active granulomas: in adults, associated with fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly and hypersplenism
- Inactive granulomas: associated with histoplasmosis
Treatment
- Splenectomy for symptoms of hypersplenism
