title: Incidence and importance of splenic sarcoid-like granulomas.
abstract: In an attempt to further define the nature, occurrence, and relative incidence of splenic sarcoid-like granulomas, 412 splenectomy specimens were studied. In addition to their occurrence in sarcoidosis, granulomas were found in patients with Hodgkin's disease, chronic uremia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and selective IgA deficiency. The inability to demonstrate a specific responsible organism suggests that the lesion is not of infectious cause. The location of the lesions in the areas of antigen-trapping in the spleen, and their occurrence in both neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases associated with abnormal or defective immunity suggests that they represent morphologic evidence of a nonspecific defect in antigen processing.
mesh_terms: D004406:Dysgammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications; D006099:Granuloma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A