Definition
The term “granuloma” comes from the Latin and means translated “nodule”. This word origin explains the frequent use of the word, although strictly speaking it is not always correct. This is because granuloma originally only describes an inflammatory reaction of our body.
Under the microscope – not visible to the naked eye – cells react to a long-lasting inflammatory stimulus, which cannot be completely eliminated. “Scavenger cells” of the immune system, called phagocytes, try in vain to destroy the damaging substances, e.g. bacteria. As a reaction, the neighboring tissue is converted. The resulting granulomas are then often visible to the naked eye as “nodules”.
Causes of a granuloma
The causes of granulomas are very diverse and can affect almost any part of the body. Common causes are: In some cases no clear cause for the occurrence of a granuloma can be determined. This includes the “granuloma anulare” of the skin.
Young people in particular suffer from the painless, circular and raised nodule on the skin. Although a connection with diabetes mellitus (“diabetes”) and the harmless skin appearance is suspected, this has not yet been sufficiently proven.
- Tuberculosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Arthritis
- Crohn’s disease
- Operations
- Foreign matter
- Autoimmune diseases
- Syphilis
- Lyme disease
The symptoms are as varied as the granulomas appear.
Decisive factors are certainly both localization and the triggering disease of the granuloma. Possible concomitant diseases and the general state of health of the person affected also play a role. Some granulomas, such as the aforementioned anular granuloma of the skin, are completely harmless and do not cause any symptoms.
However, granulomas in the lungs, e.g. caused by tuberculosis, can lead to serious complaints. These include a bloody cough, shortness of breath and severe weight loss. Granulomas in the area of an operation scar, so-called “thread granulomas”, can cause pain and a feeling of pressure in the affected area.
Pregnant women occasionally suffer from a so-called “pyogenic granuloma”. It is suspected that the altered hormone balance leads to the development of the benign, haemangioma-like skin change. Apart from the possibly cosmetically disturbing aspect, the pyogenic granuloma causes no symptoms. Fortunately, it regresses of its own accord after the end of the pregnancy.
