Granulomatous inflammation
Chapter: 2
This form of inflammation contains the distinguishing components of a granuloma, i.e., epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. While it can contain discrete, nodular granulomas, it does not usually have to. The process can be more diffuse, without the formation of actual granulomas. This diffuse form of granulomatous inflammation is most often seen when an individual's immune system is either innately hyporesponsive to a pathogen or compromised to the extent that it is difficult for the inflammatory process to form discrete granulomas. An example of innate hyporesponsiveness is the lepromatous, compared to the tuberculoid, form of leprosy. An even better example of acquird hypresponsiveness is tuberculosis as it is seen in persons with AIDS, compared to those with a healthy immune system.
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