Granulomatosis

What it means

A granulomatous inflammation leading to multiple granuloma formation, which is a specific type of inflammation. A granuloma is a focal compact collection of inflammatory cells, mononuclear cells predominating, usually as a result of the persistence of a non-degradable product and of active cell mediated hypersensitivity.

This finding can be demonstrated by tissue biopsy. A granuloma is a compact (organized) collection of mature mononuclear phagocytes (macrophages and/or epithelioid cells) which may or may not be accompanied by accessory features such as necrosis or the infiltration of other inflammatory leukocytes (Adams DO. The granulomatous inflammatory response. Am J Pathol 1976:84:163-192).

Rare diseases that can present with this3

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions, and Orphanet separately records 1 disease where this sign is specifically absent. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category