Hepatic granulomas are small abnormal clumps of cells that form when certain disorders are present.

Granulomas themselves usually cause no problems, but the disorders that cause them may. Granulomas have many causes. The most common are certain drugs and certain disorders that affect the whole body, often infections (such as tuberculosis and schistosomiasis) and sarcoidosis (see Interstitial Lung Diseases: Sarcoidosis). Granulomas occur less commonly in liver disorders but may be present in primary biliary cirrhosis (see Cirrhosis and Related Disorders: Primary Biliary Cirrhosis).

Granulomas may form when cells of the immune system gather to respond to irritants or to defend the body against foreign substances in the liver. Usually, liver function is unaffected. However, granulomas may form as part of widespread inflammation, which may be a reaction to a drug or to an infection. If inflammation is widespread, the liver may malfunction. Rarely, scar tissue forms, and high blood pressure develops in the veins that bring blood from the intestine to the liver (called portal hypertension).

Symptoms

Granulomas themselves typically cause no symptoms. The liver may enlarge slightly, and mild jaundice (a yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes) may develop. Other symptoms, if they develop, result from the disorder causing the granulomas. Granulomas caused by sarcoidosis may disappear spontaneously or persist for years without causing any noticeable symptoms.

Idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis is a rare disorder of unknown cause. It causes granulomas, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. These symptoms often occur intermittently for years.

Diagnosis

Doctors ask questions about drug use and other disorders that could cause granulomas. Doctors also do blood tests to evaluate liver function and imaging tests, such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the results may be inconclusive. Biopsy (removal of a small sample of liver tissue with a needle for examination under a microscope) may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Other tests, such as cultures, may be needed to identify the cause.

Treatment

The underlying disorder is treated. Stopping a drug that can cause granulomas or treating an infection usually causes the granulomas to disappear.

Sometimes corticosteroids are used to treat sarcoidosis, but whether they prevent the disorder from progressing is uncertain.

Last full review/revision January 2013 by Steven K. Herrine, MD