Foreign Body Granuloma
Brian J. Hall, MD
John C. Hall, MD
Key Facts
Terminology
Granulomatous inflammation as a response to traumatically introduced substances
Clinical Issues
Firm, usually colorless nodule that may or may not be painful or tender
Often freely movable and can migrate from original site of introduction
Microscopic Pathology
Giant cells, histiocytes, and lymphocytes forming granulomas surrounding foreign material
Foreign body material is in most cases easily recognizable on H&E sections
Top Differential Diagnoses
Sarcoidosis
Infectious granulomatous diseases
Ruptured cyst of follicle
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Foreign body granuloma (FBG)
Definitions
Granulomatous inflammation as a response to traumatically introduced substances
Occurs in dermis, subcutaneous tissue, or soft tissue
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
Environmental Exposure
Most common substances that elicit a FBG response are lipids, wood, petrolatum, paraffin, lead, ink (tattoos), silica, silicone, talc, zirconium (deodorants), insect fragments (e.g., from tick bites)
Suture (unremoved, undissolvable, or dissolvable but that fails to dissolve)Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
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