granulomatous inflammation

Last reviewed 01/2018

Granulomatous inflammation is a subtype of chronic inflammation. It is characterised by the formation of granulomas. It can be caused by infectious and non-infectious agents:

• infection:
• tuberculosis, causing a classical tubercle
• leprosy
• syphilis
• brucellosis
• cat scratch disease
• granuloma inguinale
• Schistosomiasis
• Cryptococcus neoformans
• Coccidiodes immitis
• inorganic material:
• silica
• berylium
• asbestos
• pneumoconiosis
• talc
• zirconium
• systemic diseases:
• sarcoidosis
• rheumatoid arthritis, causing rheumatoid nodules
• Wegener's granulomatosis
• Crohn's disease

Granulomatous inflammation is characterised by either a deficiency in:

• ability to digest and degrade phagocytosed particle
• activated cell-mediated immunity as witnessed by the frequent occurrence of lymphocytes