Abstract

A focal collection of inflammatory cells, chiefly histiocytes, macrophages, activated macrophages or epithelioid cells with giant cells (foreign body or langhans) and small lymphocytes at the site of a tissue infection may be designated as a “granuloma”. The non-infectious granulomas usually comprise of lymphadenitis secondary to conditions such as berylliosis, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymph nodes draining cancer or Crohn’s disease, sarcoid like reaction and sarcoidosis. Infective granulomatous lymphadenitis may be subdivided into “Suppurative lymphadenitis” which may be consequent to tularemia, cat scratch disease, yersinia enterocolitica and lympho-granuloma venereum. The specified aggregates may display a central necrosis or a centric abscess generally caused by the gram negative bacteria and or the chlamydial micro-organisms. Lymph nodes implicated in tularaemia and cat scratch disease usually incite the axillary and cervical lymph nodes. Yersinia micro-organisms may affect the mesenteric lymph nodes and lympho-granuloma venereum incriminates the inguinal lymph nodes.

Keywords: Granuloma; Lymph nodes; Infections; Microbiology