| Follicular hyperplasia
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Etiology
•Lymph nodes react to inflammatory processes in the area
they drain.
•Any infectious agent, including bacterial, viral,
rickettsial, protozoan, parasitic and chlamydial
pathogens can cause follicular hyperplasia.
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Pathogenesis
•The offending organism is brought into the lymph node
by lymphatic drainage, and is phagocytosed and degraded
within macrophages in the lymph nodes, initiating an
immune reaction.
•The resulting proliferation of T and B lymphocytes
and increased blood flow increases mass of the lymph
node, manifesting as enlargement of the lymph node and
tenderness.,
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Epidemiology
•Extremely common in all age groups and both sexes.
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General Gross Description
•Grossly, the lymph node is tense, enlarged 2-3
times the normal size.
•On section, the cells tend to bulge above the cut
surface.
•Individual enlarged germinal centers may be visualized
as small grainy prominences.
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General Microscopic Description
•Microscopically, the follicles are significantly
enlarged over the normal size.
•Particularly prominent are the germinal centers, where
multiple mitotic figures and active proliferation of
cells may be seen.
•In addition, large histiocytic cells with debris within
them may be seen.
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Clinical Correlation
•Follicular hyperplasia manifests as enlargement and
tenderness of the affected node(s).
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References
• Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 632
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| Follicular hyperplasia
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| Synopsis by: T.V.Rajan, M.D., Ph.D. (T08000M72000)[594]
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