Today, medicine distinguishes several types of neoplasms of human body tissues. One of them is granuloma. What it is? What are the causes of pathology? How to treat granuloma? We will analyze these and other questions in the article.
Granuloma is a focal growth of connective tissue cells, which has the form of dense nodules. The formations are benign and localized both on the surface of the skin and inside various organs and tissues.
Granuloma: causes
An ailment develops as a result of an inflammatory process, which can be infectious and non-infectious in nature, as well as an unknown etiology. The cause of infectious growths are diseases such as rash and typhoid fever, tuberculosis, brucellosis, syphilis, tularemia, rheumatism, encephalitis, rabies. Non-infectious nodules develop in people who come in contact with compounds of beryllium, asbestos, silicates, talc. Also, formations can develop around a foreign body that has entered the body.
Education mechanism
The occurrence of an inflammatory vesicle and its further transformation includes several stages:
Immature monocytes accumulate at the site of skin damage.
Young monocytes mature in macrophages.
Macrophages mature and epileptoid cells form.
Macrophages and epileptoid cells fuse.
Giant cells form.
Sclerosis of the tissue.
The diameter of typical granulomas is within 2 millimeters, but larger nodules are also found. Neoplasms can have a fast and slow metabolism. In some cases, the growths pass by themselves, in others, treatment is required. Depending on this, granulomas are classified into subspecies.
Eosinophilic granuloma
Such an ailment develops in children, in rare cases - in adolescents. Eosinophilic granuloma can affect the skin, internal organs, bones. What it is, has still not been precisely established, since the true causes of this pathology are still not known. Let's talk about the external manifestations of the disease.
Eosinophilic granuloma is manifested by single or multiple limited foci in the tubular and flat bones of the cranial vault, in the femur and pelvic bones, in the ribs, in the vertebrae. Soreness and swelling of the affected areas is noted.
An x-ray at the initial stage of the pathology allows you to see round-shaped bone defects. In the later stages, foci of inflammation merge into cells. Education is not malignant, chronic in nature, as a rule, does not progress. With large foci of inflammation, bone fractures and the formation of false joints are possible . When the pathological process is localized in the bones of the legs, a thickening of the bone occurs, soft tissues swell, and muscle atrophy can develop . The patient feels unwell, limps, refuses to eat, his temperature may rise. Such symptoms are intermittent. At the same time, a blood test does not show any deviations from the norm. The vagueness of clinical symptoms makes it difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis. Radiotherapy or surgery is usually needed for treatment.
Botriomicoma
Pyogenic granuloma, or botriomycoma, is a benign tumor that looks like a mushroom on a stalk. Education can occur after several months at the site of an injection, cut, burn or other damage to the skin. In appearance, the tumor resembles a pea of dark red color with a dense consistency. Education bleeds slightly. In the initial stages, the papule has a smooth surface, then a partial manifestation of the granuloma occurs and, in addition to blood, pus is secreted. Most often, pyogenic granuloma is localized on the face and limbs, in rare cases - on the tongue, lips, genitals. The diameter of a botriomycoma can be 3-4 centimeters, but more often the formations are much smaller. This ailment is similar in symptoms to diseases such as keratoacanthoma, angioma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and malignant tumors. But there were no cases of degeneration of Botriomycoma into cancer.
If pyogenic granuloma is diagnosed, the treatment is carried out using cryodestruction, laser cauterization, electrocoagulation, cauterization with silver nitrate solution. If the pyogenic granuloma has a wide leg, its removal may be incomplete, in which case it is recommended to use the method of surgical excision.
Granuloma annular
Such an education is a fairly common type of dermatosis of a benign nature. The annular granuloma (photo below) is located in the form of a ring, the central part of which remains healthy. The diameter of the foci of inflammation most often is 2-3 centimeters, although there are arcs or rings of gigantic sizes. This type of granuloma usually develops in children and young women.
The exact causes of the pathology have not yet been established. Ring-shaped granuloma can be a consequence of:
diabetes mellitus;
carbohydrate metabolism disorders;
mechanical injuries;
healed scars and tattoos;
warts, papillomas, herpetic eruptions;
insect bites and ticks;
burns.
Four forms of annular granuloma are distinguished, depending on localization.
Localized form
In 90% of cases, a localized form is diagnosed in children. The disease affects the feet and hands, large joints, in rare cases, other parts of the body. As a rule, a single lesion with a diameter of up to 5 centimeters develops, having round, oval or irregular (rarely) outlines. The center of the focus remains unaffected. With such a pathology as a localized granuloma, treatment is not required, since the rashes mostly disappear on their own over time.
Subcutaneous ring-shaped
Such a pathology occurs exclusively in children under 6 years of age. The formation is localized on the fingers, elbows, knees, legs, scalp.
Disseminated form
It is diagnosed in people after 50 years. This kind of dermatosis captures large areas of the body, is most often localized on the limbs, rashes look like merging vesicles.
Perforating mold
In rare cases, a perforating form may develop - a traumatic form of annular granulomatosis. The hands, fingers are affected, the formation has the appearance of a papule, which eventually transforms into a plaque. Basically, granuloma resolves on its own, but if it causes a person any inconvenience, complex treatment with corticosteroids may be required. UFO therapy, biopsy, and surgical excision are also performed.
Tooth granuloma
Dental granuloma - what is it? This is the pathology of the tooth tissue and gums, in which a small formation develops at the root. For a long time, the disease may not manifest itself in any way. Over time, painful sensations appear, the gum area becomes reddened and swollen. Granuloma can cause tooth decay and loss. Such a pathology develops as a result of periodontitis, fracture or tooth injury, infection during treatment.
An x-ray will help to identify the granuloma of the tooth. Quite often, such an ailment is found in the late stages, which is why it is necessary to carefully monitor oral hygiene, regularly visit the dentist, and timely treat tooth decay. The consequences of dental granuloma are quite unpleasant and dangerous. It can lead to:
partial or complete destruction of dental tissue;
periandibular abscess;
purulent phlegmon;
osteomyelitis of the jaw;
jaw cyst;
tumors on the tooth root;
sinusitis;
pyelonephritis;
damage to heart tissue;
sepsis.
Root growths can be a threat. To prevent the occurrence of an inflammatory nodule on the root of the tooth, it is necessary to immediately contact a doctor with the slightest pain or swelling of the gums. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is carried out by conservative and surgical methods. In the initial stages of the pathological process, the tooth itself can be saved.
Preventative measures
After reading this article, you learned more about an education like granuloma. What is it and what methods are used for treatment, we have already said. I also want to remind about prevention. To prevent the development of this pathology, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle and regularly undergo a medical examination. This will allow you to timely identify the first signs of an ailment and successfully cure it.