Inflammation represents the body’s defense mechanism against irritants or foreign substances coordinated by the immune system. This response can be categorized into different types based on cytology patterns, including pyogranulomatous, granulomatous, eosinophilic, and lymphocytic inflammation. Pyogranulomatous and granulomatous inflammation are specifically identified by their distinct cytological features observed in inflammatory preparations, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory conditions.
The key difference between pyogranulomatous and granulomatous inflammation is their inflammatory preparation. In pyogranulomatous inflammation, it mainly consists of a mixture of neutrophils, epitheliod macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells while in granulomatous inflammation, inflammatory preparation mainly consists of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pyogranulomatous Inflammation
3. What is Granulomatous Inflammation
4. Similarities – Pyogranulomatous and Granulomatous Inflammation
5. Pyogranulomatous vs Granulomatous Inflammation in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pyogranulomatous and Granulomatous Inflammation
7. FAQ – Pyogranulomatous and Granulomatous Inflammation
What is Pyogranulomatous Inflammation?
Pyogranulomatous inflammation is also known as chronic active inflammation. It is a type of inflammation where inflammatory preparations consist of inflammatory cells neutrophils and a prominent fraction of macrophages (15 % to 50 % macrophages). Moreover, pyogranulomatous inflammation may also have multinucleated giant cells, reactive fibroblasts, and lymphocytes.
Pyogranulomatous inflammation indicates a cause other than routine bacterial infection. Therefore, pyogranulomatous inflammation can be caused by fungal infections (e.g., Blastomycosis), higher bacteria (e.g., Actinomyces), mycobacterium, protozoa, and noninfectious disorders (e.g., foreign bodies, necrosis).
What is Granulomatous Inflammation?
Granulomatous inflammation is also known as chronic inflammation. Granulomatous inflammation is a type of inflammation in which inflammatory preparations consist of inflammatory cells such as macrophages (where greater than 50% of the cells are macrophages).
Figure 01: Granulomatous Inflammation
Moreover, in granulomatous inflammation, multinucleated inflammatory giant cells, reactive fibroblasts, and lymphocytes may also be present. The causes of granulomatous inflammation are fungal, mycobacterium, protozoa, foreign bodies, and necrosis.
Similarities Between Pyogranulomatous and Granulomatous Inflammation
- Pyogranulomatous and granulomatous are two different types of inflammation based on cytology patterns of inflammatory preparations in inflammation.
- Both types may have similar causes.
- Both types can be diagnosed by cytology.
- They can be treated through antibiotics and antiparasitic agents.
Difference Between Pyogranulomatous and Granulomatous Inflammation
Definition
- Pyogranulomatous inflammation is characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and a prominent fraction of macrophages in inflammatory preparations.
- Granulomatous inflammation is identified by inflammatory preparations consisting of inflammatory cells such as macrophages.
Other Cells Present
- Pyogranulomatous inflammation may include multinucleated giant cells, reactive fibroblasts, and lymphocytes.
- Granulomatous inflammation features multinucleated inflammatory giant cells, reactive fibroblasts, and lymphocytes.
Chronic/Active
- Pyogranulomatous inflammation tends to be chronic and active.
- Granulomatous inflammation is typically chronic.
Percentage of Macrophages
- In pyogranulomatous inflammation, macrophages may constitute 15% to 50% of the cells.
- Granulomatous inflammation often exhibits macrophages comprising greater than 50% of the cells.
Causes
- Pyogranulomatous inflammation can result from fungal infections (e.g., Blastomycosis), higher bacteria (e.g., Actinomyces), mycobacterium, protozoa, and noninfectious disorders (e.g., foreign bodies, necrosis).
- Granulomatous inflammation can be caused by fungal, mycobacterial, protozoal infections, foreign bodies, and necrosis.
Treatment
- Treatment for pyogranulomatous inflammation may involve topical antimicrobial therapy, along with concurrent systemic antibiotics and antifungal agents.
- Granulomatous inflammation may be treated with antibiotic therapy, such as trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, and antifungal protection, such as itraconazole.
The infographic below presents the differences between pyogranulomatous and granulomatous inflammation in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Pyogranulomatous vs Granulomatous Inflammation
Inflammation is a process in which the white blood cells of the body protect people from infection caused by outside invaders. Pyogranulomatous and granulomatous are two different types of inflammation based on cytology patterns of inflammatory preparations in inflammation. Both these types can be identified through cytology and may have similar causes. Pyogranulomatous inflammation is a type of inflammation where inflammatory preparations consist heavily of a mixture of neutrophils, epitheliod macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells, while granulomatous inflammation is a type of inflammation where inflammatory preparations consist heavily of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. Thus, this summarizes the difference between pyogranulomatous and granulomatous inflammation.
FAQ: Pyogranulomatous and Granulomatous Inflammation
1. What are two examples of granulomatous inflammation?
- Granulomatous inflammation of muscle is usually associated with sarcoidosis but can also be seen in infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease, foreign body reactions, thymoma, lymphoma, and myasthenia gravis. It can also occur without any evidence of systemic disease.
2. What causes granulomatous inflammation of the lungs?
- The major noninfectious causes of granulomatous lung disease are sarcoidosis, Wegener granulomatosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hot tub lung, aspiration pneumonia, and talc granulomatosis.
3. What is the difference between granulomatous and non-granulomatous inflammation?
- Granulomatous inflammation is characterized by blurred vision, mild pain, eye tearing, and mild sensitivity to light. Nongranulomatous inflammation is characterized by acute onset, pain, and intense sensitivity to light and has a better recovery rate than granulomatous inflammation. (Read more: difference between granulomatous and non-granulomatous inflammation )
4. What is the difference between granuloma and inflammation?
- Granuloma refers to a specific structure composed of immune cells, typically macrophages, forming in response to chronic inflammation or persistent stimuli. Inflammation, on the other hand, is a broader term encompassing the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, involving various immune cells and biochemical processes to eliminate harmful stimuli and initiate tissue repair. In summary, a granuloma is a localized area within inflamed tissue, whereas inflammation is the overall physiological response of the body to harmful stimuli.
5. What is the difference between granulomatous inflammation and granulation tissue formation?
- Granulomatous inflammation involves the formation of granulomas, which are collections of immune cells (such as macrophages) that form in response to persistent or chronic stimuli. Granulation tissue formation, on the other hand, is part of the wound healing process, where new connective tissue and tiny blood vessels form to repair damaged tissue.
Reference:
1. Williams, G T, and W J Williams. “Granulomatous Inflammation–a Review.” Journal of Clinical Pathology, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. Brito, T. de, and M. F. Franco. “Granulomatous Inflammation.” Revista Do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Granulomatous inflammation — high mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia