Epithelioid cell granulomata in the mucosa of the small intestine in Whipple's disease.
This report is the first description of sarcoid-like epithelioid cell granulomata in the mucosa of the small intestine in a case of Whipple's disease. The epithelioid cells do not contain PAS-positive material or products of bacterial degradation. Their ultrastructural features characterize them as histiocytes which have become secretory rather than phagocytic. These sarcoid-like lesions are considered to be a morphological manifestation of an immunological process in Whipple's disease and not to represent evidence of sarcoidosis as a concomitant or associated disorder.
D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology*; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000473:pathology*