title: [Idiopathic hepatosplenic granulomatosis].
abstract: Granulomas in the liver are identified in 3-10% of all liver biopsies. Although granulomas frequently represent a sign of either infectious or non infectious disease, 20% of the hepatic granulomas lack an identifiable etiology. These cases are defined as idiopathic granulomatous hepatitides (IG). We describe four cases of disease resembling a lymphoid malignance in which IG could be diagnosed by laboratory, radiological (XR, CT), ultrasonographic, histological and follow-up studies of the patients. We suggest that IG may be suspected in patients with granulomas in the liver, self-limited fever of unknown origin, low epatosplenomegaly, eosinophilia less than 5%, in the absence of infectious, lymphoid or sarcoid diseases. We recommend laparascopy as an important diagnostic tool.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nalli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellusci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mengoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carnevale Maffè
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casirola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Granulomatosi epatosplenica idiopatica.