More on hepatic granulomas

Diagn Pathol. 2015 Nov 19:10:203. doi: 10.1186/s13000-015-0442-6.

Abstract

We have read the case report of Nihon-Yanagi et al. The patient they described developed hepatic granuloma two times and the granulomatous lesion was surrounding metal staples/clips suggesting that the granuloma was due to surgical staples/clips. Hepatic granulomas (HGs) are reported in around 5% of patient who undergo a liver biopsy and caused by several diseases including sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, hydatid cyst, brucellosis, typhoid fever, chronic hepatitis B and C and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are the most common and serious causes of liver damage in patient with renal failure. Their prevalence is a higher than people without renal failure. We have previously reported that the prevalences of HGs in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C are 1.5 and 1.3% respectively. The described patient was on hemodialysis for 12 years. The other causes of HG seem excluded; however hepatitis B and C infections and PBC should have been tested and excluded before ascribing the HGs to surgical staples/clipping material.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body / etiology*
  • Hepatectomy / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Laparoscopy / adverse effects*
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Male
  • Sigmoid Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Surgical Instruments / adverse effects*
  • Sutures / adverse effects*
  • Titanium / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Titanium