TY - JOUR
T1 - Significance of crystalline inclusions in lung granulomas.
AU - Visscher, D.
AU - Churg, A.
AU - Katzenstein, A. L.
PY - 1988/11
Y1 - 1988/11
N2 - We describe six examples of nonnecrotizing lung granulomatosis in which there were numerous polarizable crystalline inclusions. The crystals were easily visible in routine H&E-stained slides and were so prominent that the question of a pneumoconiosis or other exogenous source was raised. There was no clinical history to suggest an inhalational source, however, and no patient used intravenous drugs. In one case, an atypical mycobacterial infection was proven to be etiologic, while sarcoidosis was documented in three. A review of 63 additional consecutive lung biopsies and 24 extrapulmonary biopsies showing nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation demonstrated crystals in almost two-thirds of cases. X-ray spectroscopy and histochemistry demonstrated that the crystals contained mainly calcium oxalate and calcium carbonate and thus represented products of cellular metabolism. These findings emphasize that crystalline inclusions are common in lung granulomas of varying etiology. They may be numerous, and their presence does not necessarily indicate a pneumoconiosis or other exogenous source.
AB - We describe six examples of nonnecrotizing lung granulomatosis in which there were numerous polarizable crystalline inclusions. The crystals were easily visible in routine H&E-stained slides and were so prominent that the question of a pneumoconiosis or other exogenous source was raised. There was no clinical history to suggest an inhalational source, however, and no patient used intravenous drugs. In one case, an atypical mycobacterial infection was proven to be etiologic, while sarcoidosis was documented in three. A review of 63 additional consecutive lung biopsies and 24 extrapulmonary biopsies showing nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation demonstrated crystals in almost two-thirds of cases. X-ray spectroscopy and histochemistry demonstrated that the crystals contained mainly calcium oxalate and calcium carbonate and thus represented products of cellular metabolism. These findings emphasize that crystalline inclusions are common in lung granulomas of varying etiology. They may be numerous, and their presence does not necessarily indicate a pneumoconiosis or other exogenous source.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 2851787
AN - SCOPUS:0024118284
SN - 0893-3952
VL - 1
SP - 415
EP - 419
JO - Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc
JF - Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc
IS - 6
ER -