Cutaneous silica granuloma with generalized involvement of lymph nodes

• Published in: Journal of dermatology Vol. 38; no. 7; pp. 697 - 701
• Main Authors: HOU, Maihua, ZHU, Wenyuan, YE, Yuda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Birefringence; Case reports; Crystallization; cutaneous silica granuloma; Dust; elemental X-ray spectrum; Foreign-Body Reaction - metabolism; Foreign-Body Reaction - pathology; Giant cells; Granuloma; Granuloma - metabolism; Granuloma - pathology; Humans; Ionizing radiation; Jaw; Lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Nodules; Occupational Diseases - metabolism; Occupational Diseases - pathology; Polarized light; polarized light microscopy; Silica; Silicon Dioxide - chemistry; Silicon Dioxide - metabolism; Skin Diseases - metabolism; Skin Diseases - pathology; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0385-2407; 1346-8138; 1346-8138
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2011.01206.x

We report a case of cutaneous silica granuloma with generalized involvement of distal lymph nodes; no similar case has been reported in the published work. The 45‐year‐old man was a stonemason who had been incidentally sprayed with rock dust from a saw 22 years ago. The subject presented with nodules and erythematous areas on his face and chin. In addition, there was swelling in the cervical and inguinal lymph nodes. An excised lymph node had normal architecture with numerous non‐caseating epithelioid cell granuloma and silicotic nodules which contained scattered, multinucleated, giant cells. There were particles in the granuloma exhibiting birefringence under polarized light microscopy. Elemental X‐ray spectra of these lesions showed the presence of silica in these granulomas.