Granulomas in lung is a non cancerous inflammation of lung tissues. This mostly affects a small portion of the lung. Besides lungs, granulomas may occur other body parts. Injury to the tissues is the primary cause of lung granulomas. Often, these are detected in X-rays and are mostly mistaken to cancer.
Granulomas in Lung Definition:
Granuloma is the rough spherical mass of the immune cells. These form when immune system tries to bar the materials that it thinks to foreign, but can’t eliminate. These substances may be microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, suture fragments, keratinous substances, bacteria, etc. Hence, it is an inflammation which occurs in the cases of infectious and non infectious disorders.
Granuloma is referred to as a tiny nodule which can be harmless lesion to malignant tumor. Medically, this is an organised collection of macrophages. These contain neutrophils, multinucleated giant cells, collagen, fibroblasts, eosinophils and lymphocytes.
Causes of Granulomas in Lung:
Lung granulomas can be noticed in various non infectious and infectious diseases. Granulomas may be seen in the following infectious diseases:
- Histoplasmosis: Granulomas can be observed in the histoplasmosis form. Fungi causes this condition and the fungal agent can be seen in the granulomas after performing microbial cultures or biopsy.
- Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis granulomas contain caseating tubercules. Non necrotizing granulomas can also be noticed. Langhans giant cells or multinucleated giant cells with nuclei which looks like horse shoe can be seen.
- Wegener’s Granulomatosis: In this form, blood vessels are injured which affects kidneys, lungs and other organs. It is a life threatening condition which requires long term immuno suppression.
- Chrug-Strauss syndrome: This condition is a small and medium vessel auto-immune vasculitis which results in necrosis. This is very rare, non inheritable and also non transmissible disease.
- Sarcoidosis: This is an idiopathic condition. Granulomas are observed in various organs and parts of the body. This condition is often seen in granulomas in lymph nodes and lung of chest cavity.
- Cryptococcosis: This condition is noticed in people with healthy immune system. This inflammation is due to encounter of fungal agent and the immune system. These can be non – necrotizing or necrotizing.
