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General and Systemic Histopathology, C601&C602
     
    Slide 78: TB Pericarditis
     
     
    Here you will see an unbelievable thickened pericardium with a marked chronic inflammatory infiltrate.  The exudate is partially "organized," but no well defined granulomas are present.  We know this was tuberculosis because of the history and positive autopsy cultures.

    See this slide with the virtual microscope.

    This slide does not show well developed granulomas, rather a marked chronic inflammatory infiltrate with a large amount of granulation tissue. By the way, be sure you know the difference between "granuloma" and "granulation tissue," even if the two seem to blend together here. In this slide there are many plasma cells along with the angioblasts and fibroblasts in, and on, the surface of the epicardium. Histologically it's not really possible to make a diagnosis of TB from what you have. We know it because of the patient's history and a successful culture. I am not trying to fool you or give you something you can't diagnose, rather I am showing you how it can look.

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