Pj. Symmans et al., CALCIUM-OXALATE CRYSTAL DEPOSITION IN EPITHELIOID HISTIOCYTES OF GRANULOMATOUS LYMPHADENITIS - ANALYSIS BY LIGHT AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY, Histopathology, 27(5), 1995, pp. 423-429
In this study of 55 cases of granulomatous lymphadenitis of various ae
tiologies, both haematoxylin and eosin stained and unstained sections
were examined by light and polarizing light microscopy for crystals wi
thin epithelioid histiocytes, This investigation was prompted by a cas
e of granulomatous lymphadenitis in which the identification of ovoid
birefringent structures within epithelioid histiocytes led to an initi
al false suggestion of foreign body reaction, Identical single, small,
ovoid or biconvex, intensely birefringent crystals, invisible by ordi
nary light microscopy, were found within the cytoplasm of mononuclear
epithelioid histiocytes in 37 cases. There was only minor crystal loss
with routine H & E staining, The sections were also examined by scann
ing electronmicroscopy in secondary and backscattered electron imaging
modes and 27 cases were found to contain biconvex crystals which were
shown on X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopic microanalysis to be co
nsistent with calcium oxalate, There was a good quantitative correlati
on between light and scanning electron microscopy, Tissue from the ind
ex case was also examined by transmission electronmicroscopy, and elec
tron dense crystals were identified. We confirm the previous findings
of ovoid oxalate crystals in a variety of granulomatous conditions inc
luding Mycobacterial infection, sarcoidosis and Crohn's disease, Ovoid
crystals of calcium oxalate, a common finding in granulomatous lympha
denitis, appear to be endogenously derived, and should be more widely
recognized in order to avoid misdiagnosis of foreign body reaction.