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ranulomas vs. other inflammatory conditions: What are the surprising differences
In the broad field of disease research, granulomas are often confused with other types of inflammation. Granuloma, as a special form of immune response, is different from the general inflammatory mechanism, which makes us begin to question: Do we really understand the core differences between the two?
Definition and characteristics of granuloma
Granuloma is a tissue structure formed by the aggregation of macrophages and other cells, and is mostly caused by chronic inflammation. Granules occur when the immune system tries to isolate foreign substances that are difficult to eliminate. These foreign substances include bacteria, fungi and others such as foreign objects and suture remnants.
Generally in pathology, granulomas are defined as histologically identifiable aggregates of tissue composed of macrophages.
Differences from other inflammations
Unlike general inflammatory reactions, granulomas are formed when encountering antigens that are resistant to first-line resistance. Most of these antigens are infectious agents or substances foreign to the body; however, sometimes the source of the antigen is not clear (as in the case of deserticola). This makes granuloma an important clue in the diagnosis of many diseases clinically.
The formation process of granuloma
During the formation of granulomas, macrophages are activated and transformed into a change called "epithelioid". These "epithelioid" macrophages have nuclei of a specific shape and their cytoplasm appears redder when stained. These changes represent their response to invading antigens. The cells in a granuloma gather tightly to form a compact sphere. For this reason, the dense cell population associated with it is an important reference for judging a granuloma.
Types of granulomas
According to the different characteristics of granuloma tissue, granuloma can be divided into necrotic and non-necrotic. Necrotic granulomas are usually associated with infection, a typical example being necrotic adenoma of tuberculosis. Non-necrotic granulomas are commonly seen in conditions such as desert-like disease, suggesting that distinguishing between the two is diagnostically important.
Diseases caused by granuloma
A range of diseases are associated with the formation of granulomas. Tuberculosis is the most representative example, in which granulomas usually contain necrotic tissue and cause various accompanying symptoms. Other diseases such as leprosy, whale algae (whale disease), hemorrhagic diseases, etc. may also show the characteristics of granulomas.
The formation of granulomas can be considered a form of "persistent resistance" displayed by the immune system, meaning that the immune system continues to produce a structural response against an antigen as it tries to eliminate it.
Comparison with other inflammatory conditions
Although granules form in response to chronic inflammation, not all inflammation will result in granules. For example, common acute inflammation is mostly due to the rapid response of white blood cells and will not form a closed granuloma structure. This makes granulomas somewhat of a symbol of the immune system's long-standing battle. The tight connection between cells and the appearance of multinucleated macrophages are important indicators for identifying granulomas.
ConclusionIn medical research, understanding the differences between granulomas and other inflammatory conditions contributes to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. As science develops, our understanding of the immune system is also deepening. Is it possible to classify and treat these inflammatory responses in a more nuanced way, leading to a smoother recovery for the patient?
