Pathology of lymphoid organs, spleen, and thymus Flashcards
Lymphadenopathy
Enlargement of the lymph nodes
Reactive hyperplasia
- presence of germinal centres (proliferation of B cells)
- increased macrophages in the subscapular sinuses
- expanded paracortex (space between follicles) (= proliferation of T cells)
- Plasma cells in the sinuses
- Increased amounts of incoming lymph
Hypertrophy vs. hyperplasia of lymph nodes
Lymphoid tissues are highly proliferative, thus they do not undergo hypertrophy but only hyperplasia
Why in reactive lymph nodes do the germinal centers appear polarized with light pole directed to source of antigen?
Lymphocytes in a blast stage in the germinal centers. T Lymphocytes are directed towards subscapular side which is the direction antigens come from.
What do germinal centers look like in response to injury?
“Starry sky appearance” The white areas, the “stars” are macrophages eating
Why does lymph node hypoplasia or atrophy occur?
Starving animal, Severe Combined Immundeficiency (SCID), viral infections
Major serious characteristic of Parvovirus
Necrosis of crypts of intestine, necrosis at the level of the bone marrow, same happens in lymph nodes and the spleen
What are some causes of necrosis of lymphoid tissues?
Equine Herpesvirus, Parvo, BVDV
Necrosis of lymph nodes
Would happen in all LNs- systemic infection. Consists of lysis of cells of the lymphoid follicles. Grossly not visible, they would just be smaller than usual. BVDV and parvo would target cells of highly proliferative tissue compartments such as lymphoid tissue.
Anthracosis in the lungs, how it affects the tracheobronchial lymph nodes
Dependent LN would be pigmented as well by the carbon. True with any pigmented disease.
Lymphadenitis
Infectious agent present within the lymph node. Targeting the lymph node. (different than reactive hyperplasia stand alone) however, you would definitely have reactive hyperplasia at the same time.
Reaction of LN to infections
- Reactive lymph node
- Inflammation as a result of direct infection
- Lymphadentisis as a result of drainage from infected site
Serous lymphadenitis
Early stage of infection. Can develop into suppurative or granulomatous.
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (not TB) affect on LNs.
Big lymph node with necrosis. Concentric arrangement of necrotic material. Multiple episodes of necrosis, causing the layered appearance. Common in small ruminants and sheep. Ovine CLA (Ovine Caseous Lymphadenitis). Chronic suppurative lymphadenitis
How do the lymph nodes get infected in Ovine Caseous Lymphadenitis?
Skin wounds- tail docking, castration, shearing.
What is Porcine Jowl abscess caused by?
Streptococcus porcinus
What is Equine strangles caused by? How does it affect LNs?
Streptococcus equi. Resp. infection but also swollen lymph notes. Serous or sero-purulent exudate
Postwwaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS)
Wasting disease of pigs- they usually die within 6-12 weeks of age. Caused by Porcine Circovirus 2. Granulomatous lymphadentitis and lymphoid depletion. Giant cells- typical of granulomatous inflammation.
Lymphadenitis Secondary infections of the lymph nodes- what is the main one that causes this?
Granulomatous in the lungs. I.e. Bovine Tuberculosis will cause chronic granulomatous lymphadentitis.
- another example) Wooden Tongue, Bovine (Actinobacillus ligneresii). Pyogranulomatous lymphadentitis and glossitis.
- Rhodococcus equi- Pyogranulomatous enteritis and lymphdentitis.
- bovine, Johne’s disease. Granulomatous enteritis and lymphadentitis.
Main tumour of the lymph nodes
Lymphomas (90% of tumours of the lymph nodes)
Lymphoma histologically characterized by?
BLUE! Lots of lymphocytes! And Starry Sky appearance on medium- high power.
Classification of Lymphomas
- Helps us determine low grade or high grade. Basically how long the patient has to live.
- Anatomic location- Can arise anywhere in the body- any tissue and organ of the body. (Spleen forms, etc. sometimes confined, sometimes can spread, lymphoma of the skin- can look like dermatitis, lymphoma of the kidneys)
- Immuno-phenotype: benign or malignant? T cell, B cell, or NK cell lymphoma? ALL lymphomas are malignant. But B cell are more responsive to chemotherapy. While T cell lymphomas are less responsive.
- Cellular morphology- large cell lymphocytes or small cell lymphocytes. The larger they are, the more malignant they are.
Lymphoma vs. Infection?
Bilateral lymphadenopathy- lymphoma
Unilateral lymphadenopathy- infection
Alimentary
Gastric and intestine involved at the same time. (most common form of lymphoma in cats- with mesenteric lymph node involvement)