Giant cells

Multinucleated, often phagocytic cells formed by fusion of activated macrophages, typically as part of a chronic inflammatory response to isolate persistent pathogens, foreign material, or other difficult-to-eliminate stimuli.

Causes

• Chronic granulomatous inflammatory disorders

  • Tuberculosis

  • Fungal infections

  • Syphilis

  • Sarcoidosis

  • Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)

  • Giant cell myocarditis

• Foreign-body reactions

  • Retained surgical sutures

  • Glass fragments

  • Other implanted or traumatic foreign materials

• Neoplastic conditions

  • Highly aggressive carcinoma

  • Sarcoma

  • Osteoclastoma (giant cell tumor of bone)