[Dust particles mainly containing silicon found in the cells of granulomas of sarcoidosis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if there are dust particles in the cells of granulomas of sarcoidosis and analyze its composition and the possible correlation between the sarcoidosis and the composition of dust particles.

METHODS

The samples of 50 patients with sarcoidosis and 6 patients with silicosis as control were collected by biopsy and/or autopsy sampling. The pathological varieties of the granulomas and the situation of the dust particles within the cells of granulomas were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, Warthin-Starry silver staining, immunohistochemistry staining as well as the transmission electron microscope, and the X-Ray spectrum chemical element analysis in the samples from these two kinds of diseases.

RESULTS

The dust particles containing silicon as the main chemical element were present in epithelioid cells and multinucleate giant cells in all the samples. The quantity of the particles deposited in sarcoidosis was less than that in the silicosis. Moreover, the dust cells were found in the granulomas and the visceral pleural lymphatic vessels in the pleura and the hilar pulmonary lymph nodes in sarcoidosis and silicosis. The pathological varieties of the granulomas in sarcoidosis and silicosis were similar.

CONCLUSION

There are less silicon dust particles in the cells of granulomas of sarcoidosis than in those of the silicotic nodules, which indicates that the silicon dust particles may be related to the sarcoidosis.