The prevalence of hepatic granulomas in chronic hepatitis C

The Diagnostic Dilemma of Acute Granulomatous Hepatitis in a Patient With Crohn's Disease: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Liver involvement is not an uncommon extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD-associated liver diseases may have a variety of etiopathogenetic origins (including shared autoimmune pathogenesis, the effect of chronic inflammatory status, and adverse effects of drugs). Nevertheless, acute granulomatous hepatitis in the setting of Crohn’s disease (CD) is a rare clinical entity. It warrants, however, a careful assessment as both clinical and pathological features of Crohn’s-associated granulomatous hepatitis closely mimic extrapulmonary hepatic sarcoidosis, with considerable overlaps between the 2 diseases, which certainly makes a definitive diagnosis quite challenging. It is crucial to exclude infectious etiologies during the evaluation of acute granulomatous hepatitis, as inappropriate immunosuppressive treatment may cause a systemic flare-up of an underlying liver infection. We report a rare case of a 35-year-old female with a history of CD who presented with recurrent fevers, acute abdominal pain, and cholestasis. She was found to have acute hepatitis with noncaseating granulomas on liver biopsy. A comprehensive diagnostic workup did not ultimately prove a specific etiological culprit. The patient was treated with oral corticosteroids, and she demonstrated a positive clinical and laboratory response to the treatment. Our case highlights the diagnostic dilemma of acute granulomatous hepatitis in the setting of co-existent CD with a multisystemic syndrome. Granulomatous hepatitis represents a relatively rare manifestation of both extraintestinal CD and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis, with potential difficulties discriminating between the 2 entities on many occasions. The case also demonstrates the value of an interdisciplinary approach in the context of multisystemic disease to achieve the best outcome.

Granulomas in the Liver, with a Focus on Infectious Causes

Hepatic granulomas are encountered in approximately 2% to 10% of liver biopsies. There are many potential infectious and noninfectious causes; granulomas can be generally classified by their morphology, which may be helpful in refining the differential diagnosis. This article provides a review of hepatic granulomas with an emphasis on infectious causes.

Chronic Hepatitis C and Direct Acting Antivirals

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States and is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease requiring liver transplant. Over the last 10 years, direct acting antiviral therapies have revolutionized HCV treatment, increasing the cure rates from less than 50% to more than 90% in those who reach access to care. This article is an overview for pathologists and clinicians covering the histologic findings of HCV as well as direct acting antiviral therapy.

Hepatic granulomas: a 17-year single tertiary centre experience

AIMS

Hepatic granulomas have an estimated prevalence of 5% in liver biopsies, with a wide range of aetiologies globally. Our aim was to assess the clinical relevance, presenting features and underlying aetiology in a non-transplant, tertiary referral centre from a western country.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a retrospective, single-centre review of clinical, laboratory and histological data including all adult patients for whom a liver biopsy was performed from January 1998 to December 2014. A total of 297 cases with hepatic granulomas were found in 9374 biopsies, but 57 were excluded from analysis either because they were lipogranulomas or the biopsy/aetiological work-up had not been performed at our institution. Overall, the most common aetiology was tuberculosis (35.8%), followed by primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) - 15.0%. In 30 patients (12.5%) granulomas were classified as idiopathic. From 1998 to June 2006 there were 147 granulomas in 5304 biopsies (2.8%), a frequency that did not change significantly compared to the period from July 2006 to December 2014 (93 granulomas in 4070 biopsies, 2.3%, P > 0.05). However, for the majority of cases (61.9%) there was a shift in granuloma aetiology during the former time-period that infectious diseases were responsible, whereas in the latter, autoimmune liver diseases (43%) were the main aetiology. In addition, while three cases of drug-induced granulomas were found from 1998 to June 2006, we report two cases in the second time-period.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic granulomas can result from various infectious and non-infectious diseases. During recent years, an epidemiological shift regarding granuloma aetiology was observed, from systemic infectious diseases to non-infectious, mainly immune-mediated primary liver disorders. With an appropriate work-up the aetiology can be identified in the vast majority of cases (~90%), rendering its histological identification and characterisation essential, as disease-specific therapies are becoming available.

Hepatitis C virus mediated chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis in the humanised immune system and liver mouse model

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Many individuals infected by the virus are unable to resolve the viral infection and develop chronic hepatitis, which can lead to formation of liver cirrhosis and cancer. To understand better how initial HCV infections progress to chronic liver diseases, we characterised the long term pathogenic effects of HCV infections with the use of a humanised mouse model (HIL mice) we have previously established. Although HCV RNA could be detected in infected mice up to 9 weeks post infection, HCV infected mice developed increased incidences of liver fibrosis, granulomatous inflammation and tumour formation in the form of hepatocellular adenomas or hepatocellular carcinomas by 28 weeks post infection compared to uninfected mice. We also demonstrated that chronic liver inflammation in HCV infected mice was mediated by the human immune system, particularly by monocytes/macrophages and T cells which exhibited exhaustion phenotypes. In conclusion, HIL mice can recapitulate some of the clinical symptoms such as chronic inflammation, immune cell exhaustion and tumorigenesis seen in HCV patients. Our findings also suggest that persistence of HCV-associated liver disease appear to require initial infections of HCV and immune responses but not long term HCV viraemia.

Hepatic sarcoidosis: pathogenesis, clinical context, and treatment options

Sarcoidosis is typically characterized as a non-caseating granulomatous disease that has the ability to affect multiple different organ systems. Although extra-thoracic sarcoidosis can occur in the presence and also without lung involvement, isolated extra-pulmonary disease is rare. The liver is the third most commonly affected organ system after the lungs and lymph nodes. When discussing hepatic sarcoidosis it is important to keep in mind that many patients in this population may not present as one would typically expect since most of the patients are asymptomatic or have mild presentations. Therefore, the diagnosis can be difficult at times since no single laboratory or imaging study can definitively diagnose this systemic disease. In the rare case of some patients where there is difficulty in discerning between different pathologies, the use of image-guided tissue biopsy may be necessary to establish a diagnosis. At the current time, there are no clear guidelines for the management of hepatic sarcoidosis and are mostly dependent on a patient's clinical status at time of presentation. The current body of research in regard to treatment suggests steroids to be the mainstay of therapy. However, there is a role for additional immunosuppressive therapy in cases where the initial treatment is refractory to steroids. In this manuscript, we discussed the pathogenesis of liver sarcoidosis and context of its presentation. In addition, the differential diagnosis and imaging evaluation in this population is discussed. Finally, treatment options are reviewed in setting of previous studies for liver sarcoidosis.

More on hepatic granulomas

We have read the case report of Nihon-Yanagi et al. The patient they described developed hepatic granuloma two times and the granulomatous lesion was surrounding metal staples/clips suggesting that the granuloma was due to surgical staples/clips.

Hepatic granulomas (HGs) are reported in around 5 % of patient who undergo a liver biopsy and caused by several diseases including sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, hydatid cyst, brucellosis, typhoid fever, chronic hepatitis B and C and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are the most common and serious causes of liver damage in patient with renal failure. Their prevalence is a higher than people without renal failure. We have previously reported that the prevalences of HGs in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C are 1.5 and 1.3 % respectively. The described patient was on hemodialysis for 12 years. The other causes of HG seem excluded; however hepatitis B and C infections and PBC should have been tested and excluded before ascribing the HGs to surgical staples/clipping material.

Hepatic sarcoidosis complicating treatment-naive viral hepatitis

Hepatic sarcoidosis is usually asymptomatic but rarely leads to adverse liver-related outcome. Co-existence of viral hepatitis and hepatic sarcoidosis is a rare, but recognised phenomenon. Obtaining a balance between immune suppression and anti-viral therapy may be problematic. Immunosuppression in the presence of viral hepatitis can lead to rapid deterioration of liver disease. Similarly, anti-viral therapy may exacerbate granulomatous hepatitis. Here we present two cases of viral hepatitis co-existing with sarcoidosis that illustrate successful management strategies. In one, hepatitis B replication was suppressed with oral anti-viral therapy before commencing prednisolone. In the second, remission of hepatic sarcoidosis was achieved with prednisolone, before treating hepatitis C and obtaining a sustained virological response with pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Sarcoidosis and chronic hepatitis C: A case report

Several case reports deal with the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and pulmonary or hepatic sarcoidosis. Most publications describe interferon α-induced sarcoidosis. However, HCV infection per se is also suggested to cause sarcoidosis. The present case report describes a case of biopsy-verified lung and liver sarcoidosis and HCV infection, and the outcome of antiviral therapy. In March 2009, a 25-year-old man presented with moderately elevated liver enzymes without any clinical symptoms. The patient was positive for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA of genotype 1b. Four months later the patient became dyspnoic and pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed by lung biopsy and radiography. A short course of corticosteroid treatment relieved symptoms. Three months later, liver biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas consisting of epithelioid histiocytes and giant cells with a small amount of peripheral lymphocyte infiltration, without any signs of fibrosis. Chronic HCV infection with coexistence of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis was diagnosed. Antiviral therapy with peginterferon α and ribavirin at standard doses was started, which lasted 48 wk, and sustained viral response was achieved. A second liver biopsy showed disappearance of granulomas and chest radiography revealed normalization of mediastinal and perihilar glands. The hypothesis that HCV infection per se may have triggered systemic sarcoidosis was proposed. Successful treatment of HCV infection led to continuous remission of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis. Further studies are required to understand the relationship between systemic sarcoidosis and HCV infection.

Recurrent hepatitis C and acute allograft rejection: clinicopathologic features with emphasis on the differential diagnosis between these entities

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is the leading etiology for liver transplantation in the United States. Recurrent hepatitis C occurs nearly universally in these patients and represents a serious posttransplantation complication. Despite the detailed characterization of the histologic features of both recurrent hepatitis C and acute cellular rejection (ACR) over the last decades, the pathologic distinction between these 2 conditions remains one of the greatest diagnostic challenges in liver pathology. An accurate diagnosis, nevertheless, plays an essential role in patient management, as different therapeutic strategies are used for these conditions. In this review, the clinicopathologic features of posttransplantation recurrent hepatitis C and ACR are discussed, with emphasis on distinguishing histopathologic features, morphologic variants, ancillary techniques, and diagnostic pitfalls.

New insights into gastrointestinal and hepatic granulomatous disorders

Numerous diseases that involve the gastrointestinal tract reveal the presence of granulomas on histological analysis. Granulomatous diseases can be either primary or secondary to environmental factors. Granulomas are dynamic structures composed of organized collections of activated macrophages, including epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells, surrounded by lymphocytes. The formation of granulomas is usually in response to antigenic stimulation and is orchestrated through cytokines, immune cells and host genetics. In this Review, the pathogenesis and etiologies of granulomas of the gastrointestinal tract and liver are discussed, as are the available diagnostic tools to help differentiate their various underlying etiologies. In addition, the role of granulomas in harboring latent tuberculosis is reviewed. The effects of tumor necrosis factor antagonists and interferon-α on the development of granulomas are also discussed.

Hepatic granulomas: a clinicopathologic analysis of 86 cases

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and histopathological characteristics of hepatic granulomas. All records of liver biopsies/resections evaluated in our pathology department between 2002 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Specimens with hepatic granulomas were reexamined by a designated pathologist. Type and localization of granulomas, size of granulomas and epithelioid histiocytes, and the morphological findings of surrounding liver tissue were recorded in an attempt to establish a correlation with relevant clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. Out of 1420 liver biopsy/resected specimens evaluated at our institution during the study period, 86 cases of epithelioid cell granulomas (6.05%) were observed. Of the 86 cases, 23 were men and 63 were women. The most common underlying etiology was PBC in 38 patients, infections in 34, malignancies in five, sarcoidosis in four, and foreign bodies in three patients. One case (1.2%) of a drug-induced hepatic granuloma was encountered, while another case was deemed idiopathic (of unknown etiology). Contrary to common belief, granulomas were observed not only in early stage PBC but also in cases with stage 3 disease. Out of all the PBC cases with granulomas, 55.6% had stage 3 disease, and besides periductal granulomas, intraacinar granulomas were also seen. For sarcoidosis, intra- and peri-granulomatous fibrosis was observed in as many as 75% of cases. A large majority of granulomas (82.4%) associated with infections were of the necrotizing type. Extensive evaluation of the morphological characteristics of hepatic granulomas and surrounding liver tissue along with clinical, radiological, and other laboratory findings may help arrive at an accurate diagnosis in a majority of cases. Rather than being a final diagnosis, the presence of hepatic granulomas entails the need for further investigations towards identifying the underlying etiology, with a pathologist being at the center of the diagnostic process.

Hepatic granulomas: pathogenesis and differential diagnosis

Granulomatous liver disease constitutes a category of hepatic disorders and is at present diagnosed in approximately 4% of liver biopsies. Hepatic granulomas develop through the interactions of T lymphocytes and macrophages, with the integral involvement of T-helper (T(H)) 1 or T(H)2 pathways or both, depending on the specific granulomatous disease. Hepatic granulomas may be manifested clinically by elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and g-glutamyltransferase enzymes, damage to specific structures (eg, intrahepatic bile ducts in primary biliary cirrhosis), or infrequently, progressive liver disease with portal hypertension and cirrhosis (eg, sarcoidosis). Systemic immunologic disorders, infectious diseases, drug hepatotoxicity, and reaction to neoplastic disease are the major causative factors responsible for granulomas in the liver. These causes and recent epidemiologic trends are covered in this discussion.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-blockade-induced hepatic sarcoidosis in psoriatic arthritis (PsA): case report and review of the literature

To study the cytokine profile in a 52 year old woman with psoriasis, PsA, and HCV who developed hepatic sarcoidosis following Etanercept therapy for 7 months. 11 PsA patients on TNF blockers mean disease duration 158.4 (SD 114.5), mean treatment duration 72.1 (SD 42.14) months, 8/11 PsA were on Etanercept and 5 healthy controls were studied. TNF-α, sTNF RI/RII, IFN-α/β/γ, IL-1 α, IL-15, IL-6, VEGF, s IL-1 R, sIL-6 R, IL-12, IL-23, IL-17, Adiponectin, Leptin and EGF were assessed. All PsA and controls tested negative for Quantiferon TB Gold, hepatitis B/C, HIV, ACE level, chest x-ray, liver function test (LFTs). Serologic biomarkers of the subject in comparison to the controls indicate that sTNF RI value was significantly higher; and IL-1 alpha level has a high outlier compared to the 11 PsA patients on TNF blockers. The clinical course, histologic findings, increased levels of s TNF R I and IL-1 α in the subject as compared to the other PsA on TNF blockade and controls, suggest that most likely Etanercept induced inflammatory cytokine imbalance was responsible for inducing hepatic sarcoidosis.

[Hepatic granulomas]

Liver granulomas are histopathologically defined and associated with various liver and non-livers disorders. There are five main causes of liver granulomatosis: primary biliary cirrhosis, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, B and C viral hepatitis, and drug related. In the other cases, not associated with an underlying systemic granulomatous disease, a systematic diagnostic approach should be used to identify less common etiologies. After a careful diagnostic work-up, a long-term follow-up of patients with undetermined liver granulomatosis is mandatory as it may be a presenting feature of liver lymphoma.

Non-viral-related pathologic findings in liver needle biopsy specimens from patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Liver biopsy is a vital part of chronic viral hepatitis management. Pathologists should view these biopsies as screening tools for other liver diseases. We describe our experience in a 6-year period and discuss the pathologist's role. Liver biopsies of 1,842 patients with hepatitis B or C, for the 2001-2007 period at the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada, were reviewed; 410 other diagnoses were documented in 377 patients (20.5%; mean age, 25.4 years; range, 15-80 years). These diagnoses included 58 hepatocellular carcinomas and 16 dysplastic nodules, which are recognized complications of chronic viral hepatitis. The remaining findings included the following: steatosis/steatohepatitis, 251; hemosiderosis, 62; granulomatous disease, 7; drug-induced hepatitis, 4; primary biliary cirrhosis, 3; Wilson disease, 2; metastases, 2; and cholangiocarcinoma, atypical lymphoid proliferation, alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis, and schistosomiasis, 1 each. Liver biopsies in patients with viral hepatitis revealed other processes with the potential to modify disease progression and/or the management strategy in 20.5% of patients.

Granulomatous hepatitis, perihepatic lymphadenopathies, and autoantibody positivity: an unusual association in a child with hepatitis C

A 10-year-old boy with hepatitis C had granulomatous hepatitis (GH) at initial liver biopsy. He also had enlarged perihepatic lymph nodes and smooth muscle antibody (SMA) positivity. GH is a rare finding in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our patient is special since GH secondary to HCV infection was associated with both autoantibodies and multiple intraabdominal lymphadenopathies. After interferon (IFN) and ribavirin therapy, HCV RNA became negative, along with the resolution of hepatic granulomas (HG), lymphadenopathies, and SMA positivity. Although early virologic response was not achieved under IFN treatment, the therapy period was extended, contrary to routine practice, and resulted in a delayed response. We conclude that the usage of IFN for longer periods in GH-associated HCV infection might be promising.

Granulomatous liver disease

Hepatic granulomas are often encountered on liver biopsy and may represent a primary hepatic process, a manifestation of a systemic illness, or an innocent finding of no clinical relevance. Hepatic granulomas are a unique inflammatory response that may be idiopathic or may be a response to a bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infection; a manifestation of drug-induced liver injury; or a manifestation of underlying malignancy. When granulomas are found on liver biopsy, clinicians must correlate the histologic findings with historical and clinical data to help provide an accurate diagnosis and guide management. Therapy may be warranted, either directly for the granulomatous inflammation of the liver or for a systemic process. For some patients, observation may be the most appropriate form of management.

Chronic hepatitis C is a common associated with hepatic granulomas

AIM: To determine the most frequent etiologies of hepatic epithelioid granulomas, and whether there was an association with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

METHODS: Both a retrospective review of the pathology database of liver biopsies at our institution from 1996 through 2006 as well as data from a prospective study of hepatic fibrosis markers and liver biopsies from 2003 to 2006 were reviewed to identify cases of hepatic epithelioid granulomas. Appropriate charts, liver biopsy slides, and laboratory data were reviewed to determine all possible associations. The diagnosis of HCV was based on a positive HCV RNA.

RESULTS: There were 4578 liver biopsies and 36 (0.79%) had at least one epithelioid granuloma. HCV was the most common association. Fourteen patients had HCV, and in nine, there were no concurrent conditions known to be associated with hepatic granulomas. Prior interferon therapy and crystalloid substances from illicit intravenous injections did not account for the finding. There were hepatic epithelioid granulomas in 3 of 241 patients (1.24%) with known chronic HCV enrolled in the prospective study of hepatic fibrosis markers.

CONCLUSION: Although uncommon, hepatic granulomas may be part of the histological spectrum of chronic HCV. When epithelioid granulomas are found on the liver biopsy of someone with HCV, other clinically appropriate studies should be done, but if nothing else is found, the clinician can be comfortable with an HCV association.

Hepatic granuloma in Turkish adults: a report of 13 cases

BACKGROUND

Hepatic granuloma (HG) is a well defined histopathological finding with an heterogenous clinical presentation. Diagnosis of a specific clinical entity is not possible every time. Descriptive studies may shed light on the various etiologies also common and distinctive findings among these patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the results of the liver biopsies of 592 patients. Characteristics of the patients with HG were extracted from the hospital charts. Laboratory studies included biochemical tests, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, Brucella agglutination tests, tuberculin skin test. According to the diagnostic clues further tests (thoracic computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography, organ biopsy in addition to liver, antimitochondrial antibody, hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL)) were performed.

RESULTS

HG was found in 13 of the 592 patients (2.2%). Primary biliary cirrhosis (three cases) was the most frequent cause followed by sarcoidosis, miliary tuberculosis and BCGitis (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) (two cases each). Two patients with HG could not be diagnosed. Only three patients had remarkable physical examination findings. Alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were the most frequently elevated enzymes. Abdominal ultrasonography provided no specific diagnostic clue in any patient. Localization of the HGs was portal in 6 patients, parenchymal in 5 patients and both portal and parenchymal in 2 patients. Three exitus were due to BCGitis, miliary tuberculosis and fungal infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Tuberculosis is still among the most common etiologic factors. BCGitis has a fulminant rather than an indolent course. Abdominal ultrasonography could be used to rule out obstructive jaundice rather than to reach a specific diagnosis. Involvement of portal area by HG in most of the cases might cause obstruction of the biliary canaliculi and elevation of the cholestatic enzymes. Follow up of the difficult cases may be the best approach since the presence of HG was not proved as a bad prognostic factor for any disease.

Hepatic, ocular, and cutaneous sarcoidosis

Sarcoid affecting the skin, eye, or liver can be symptomatic of or cause significant morbidity. When disease is sever, alternative therapies may be needed.

The involvement of the liver in systemic diseases

The liver has a double blood supply and plays a central role in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and many medications. In addition, it has a role in the induction of immune tolerance and may also be a target for immune-mediated damage. For these reasons, the liver may be involved in many systemic diseases. In this review, we discuss the involvement of the liver in granulomatous, rheumatologic, malignant, and circulatory diseases. An understanding of the wide spectrum of liver involvement in systemic diseases will aid in both diagnosis and treatment of patients with a wide range of medical conditions.

[Systemic granulomatosis of infectious origin]

PURPOSE

Granulomatous diseases are defined by specific histological features, following the local recruitment of macrophages and lymphocytes. Many infections can lead to the development of granuloma.

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS

Microorganisms responsible for granuloma include mainly mycobacteria, many viral and fungal species, as well as schistosoma in endemic areas. Nevertheless, almost all microorganisms can lead to granuloma, especially if their clearance needs macrophages pathway. New immunosuppressive drugs such as tumor necrosis factor antagonists are associated with a high risk of infectious granulomatous complications. All patients with granuloma must be carefully screened to find a potential underlying infection, since an immunosuppressive therapy could be otherwise considered. We here review the general diagnostic process with a specific glance to the main organs.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS

Without clinical or epidemiological clue, diagnosis can be very tedious. New molecular tools now assist classical microbiological and histological techniques. Their specificity and sensitivity have recently been better characterized, and their use will probably increase in the near future for the diagnosis of infectious granuloma. They may also lead to discover new infectious aetiologies of granulomatous diseases formerly considered as idiopathic. We describe here the main microorganisms that can be responsible for granuloma, with a specific focus on the use of new diagnostic tools.

Development of hepatic granulomas in patients receiving pegylated interferon therapy for recurrent hepatitis C virus post liver transplantation

Infrequently, hepatitis C (HCV) appears to be the cause of hepatic granulomas. Interferon therapy for HCV has been increasingly associated with the development of sarcoidosis.

AIMS

We sought to determine the incidence of hepatic granulomas in patients with recurrent HCV post liver transplantation (LT).

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2005, 820 patients were transplanted for HCV at our institution. The pathology database was searched for patients having recurrent HCV and granulomas. At Mount Sinai Medical Center, protocol biopsies have been performed for the last 2 years in patients receiving pegylated interferon-alpha2b and ribavirin (PEG) for recurrent HCV. Review of slides from explanted livers, pre- and post-perfusion biopsies, and all allograft biopsies were evaluated. Lipogranulomas were excluded because of their frequent association with steatosis.

RESULTS

A total of 10,225 liver biopsies were performed on HCV patients, and 25 (0.24%) showed non-caseating epithelioid granulomas. Hepatic granulomas were detected in 14 post-LT HCV patients; 9 patients received PEG. Typically, only 1 lobular granuloma was found. None of these patients had granulomas in the native liver or in any biopsy before interferon therapy; 6/9 patients had undetectable HCV-RNA levels, and 4 had sustained viral response. No other cause for granuloma formation was identified in the 6 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic granulomas are infrequently found in HCV liver biopsies and rarely found in post-LT biopsies with recurrent HCV. When present, they occur more commonly in patients receiving and virologically responding to PEG therapy. The presence of granulomas in patients with HCV being treated with PEG may not warrant an extensive etiologic work-up for granulomatous hepatitis unless otherwise clinically indicated.

Granulomas in the liver

Granulomatous diseases of the liver span a huge range of infectious, drug-related, and immunologic disorders. Familiarity with the different types of granulomas as well as how they present in different diseases can be helpful in narrowing the pathologic differential diagnosis. This review surveys both common and unusual granulomatous diseases with emphasis on practical diagnosis.

Hepatic granulomas

Hepatic granulomas were present in 3.7% of liver biopsies from a 6-year Greek study. The majority of cases were due to autoimmune disease (primary biliary cirrhosis), followed by sarcoidosis and idiopathic causes. Infections were infrequent. This profile is similar to series from the USA, Ireland and Scotland. It contrasts dramatically with series from Turkey and Saudi Arabia where infectious aetiologies form the majority of cases, and autoimmune cases are not reported. Tuberculosis and schistosomiasis are the most prevalent infections. The patient sex and age differ strikingly in some series. The series were tabulated for easy comparison.

Hepatic granulomas: a 6-year experience in a single center in Greece

BACKGROUND

Hepatic granulomas have been reported in 2-15% of unselected liver biopsies, with a wide clinical profile responsible for their presence. To date, no series concerning the prevalence and the etiology of granulomas from Greece has been reported.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence and the etiology of hepatic granulomas and to investigate whether there has been an alteration in distribution of diagnoses in our series compared with those published so far in the literature.

STUDY

The results of liver biopsy specimens performed in a Department of Medicine, between 1999 and 2004, were retrospectively reviewed and the cases revealing hepatic granulomas had their medical notes and the liver biopsies recorded.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 1768 liver biopsies were performed. Hepatic granulomas were identified in 66 (3.7%). Of those, 51 were female with a mean age of 57 years (range 34-74 years) and 15 were male with a mean age of 42 years (range 18-78 years). Autoimmune liver diseases including primary biliary cirrhosis, overlap syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis accounted for the majority of cases (68%), followed by sarcoidosis (7.5%), chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection (7.5%), idiopathic (6%), drugs (3%) and other miscellaneous causes (7.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our series showed that autoimmune liver diseases, mainly primary biliary cirrhosis was the most common cause of granuloma formation, a finding rather similar to that stated in the studies from Western countries. A rather small number of idiopathic cases were recorded. Chronic viral hepatitis and sarcoidosis rates were equal, a finding possibly reflecting a fairly high proportion of viral hepatitis in our sample.

Destructive granuloma derived from a liver cyst: A case report

We herein report the case of an idiopathic liver cystic mass which aggressively infiltrated the thoraco-abdominal wall. A 74-year-old woman who had a huge cystic lesion in her right hepatic lobe was transferred to our hospital for further examinations. Imaging studies revealed a simple liver cyst, and the cytological findings of intracystic fluid were negative. She was followed up periodically by computed tomography (CT) scans. Seven years later, she complained of a prominence and dull pain in her right thoraco-abdominal region. CT revealed an enlargement of the cystic lesion and infiltration into the intercostal subcutaneous tissue. We suspected the development of a malignancy inside the liver cyst such as cystadenocarcinoma, and she therefore underwent surgery. A tumor extirpation was performed, including the chest wall, from the 7th to the 10th rib, as well as a right hepatic lobectomy. Pathologically, the lesion consisted of severe inflammatory change with epithelioid cell granuloma and bone destruction without any malignant neoplasm. No specific pathogens were evident based on further histological and molecular examinations. Therefore the lesion was diagnosed to be a destructive granuloma associated with a long-standing hepatic cyst. Since undergoing surgery, the patient has been doing well without any signs of recurrence.