What does it mean to have calcified granuloma in the spleen?
Calcified splenic granulomas are a common incidental finding, most commonly resulting from tuberculosis or histoplasmosis and less commonly from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or brucellosis [29, 30]. A risk factor for many of these infections is HIV infection.
Should I worry about a calcified granuloma?
Since calcified granulomas are almost always benign, they typically don’t require treatment. However, if you have an active infection or condition that’s causing granuloma formation, your doctor will work to treat that.
Can splenic granulomas cause pain?
Sarcoidosis of the spleen does not usually cause symptoms, but possible symptoms may include: Pain on the upper left side under the ribs.
Can sarcoidosis affect the spleen?
Some of the problems sarcoidosis might cause when it affects the spleen include: Spleen enlargement (also called splenomegaly), which occurs when inflammation and the formation of granulomas cause the spleen to swell.
Why did I get sarcoidosis?
Some people appear to have a genetic predisposition to develop the disease, which may be triggered by bacteria, viruses, dust or chemicals. This triggers an overreaction of your immune system, and immune cells begin to collect in a pattern of inflammation called granulomas.
What is granulomas in the spleen?
Splenic granulomas present as single or multiple hypodense lesions on CT. These lesions are usually caused by M. tuberculosis infection and very rarely due to MAC. 6 Splenic granulomas may be seen in association with disseminated MAC infections.
What do you need to know about calcified splenic lesions?
OBJECTIVE. Incidental splenic lesions, often found on CT images of the abdomen, may often be ignored or mischaracterized. Calcified splenic lesions are often presumed to be granulomas; however, understanding the broader differential diagnostic considerations can be useful.
Are there calcifications of the spleen in lupus patients?
A unique pattern of calcifications of the spleen may be found in lupus patients, which can suggest the diagnosis of the underlying connective tissue disease. Whether splenic calcification can predispose to hyposplenism remains to be determined. While the exact significance of diffuse splenic calcifi …
What causes calcification in the spleen and lymph nodes?
Other Causes. Calcification may occur in the parenchyma, or essential tissue, of the spleen. Possible causes include: • Phleboliths (stony deposits in veins) • Hemangioma (benign blood vessel tumor) • Splenic lymphoma (lymph tissue cancer) • Hematoma (mass of clotted blood in tissue or organ) Diffuse uniform calcification can result…
Where is the calcium deposition in the spleen?
“Dystrophic calcification” refers to mineral deposition in dying tissues, in spite of normal blood calcium levels. “Metastatic calcification” describes the deposition of calcium salts in normal tissues, usually in the presence of high blood calcium levels. Located just under the left side of the rib cage, the spleen is a spongy, fist-sized organ.