Cutaneous sarcoidosis and foreign bodies. An electron probe roentgenographic microanalytic study.
A 60-year-old woman had extensive and recurrent foreign-body granulomatous inflammation of her forehead. The granulomata contained double refractile crystalline material. Electron probe roentgenographic microanalysis identified silicon, calcium, aluminum, potassium, and sulphur in the crystalline material. Silicon-rich particles are generally considered exogenous. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed by the presence of bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy due to biopsy-proven nodal replacement by noninfectious noncaseating granulomata. We conclude that foreign matter may operate as a nidus for the formation of granuloma in sarcoidosis and that the presence of polarizable matter in a sarcoid granuloma does not rule out sarcoidosis.
Val-Bernal
J F
JF
Anatomical Pathology Department, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain.
Sánchez-Quevedo
M C
MC
Corral
J
J
Campos
A
A
D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005260:Female; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis
D013455:Sulfur; D000535:Aluminum; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D012825:Silicon