Giant cell

The giant cells are formed in chronic inflammation when individual macrophages are not able to deal with the invading agent . Some macrophages unite one another to form a giant cell but recently it uis observed that nucleus macrophage will multiply rapidly by a process of direct cell division but protoplasm will not divide as nucleus . So a giant cell will contain multiple nuclei .

 The type of giant cells are ….

1..  Foreign body giant cell – This type of giant cell contains about 50 to 100 nuclei and these are found in –

a)      Tuberculosis

b)      Syphilis

c)      Leprosy

d)     Around the site of suture

e)      At the site of haemorrhage .

In tuberculosis Langhan’s type of giant cell is found . The nuclei of this type cell will arrange in the periphery in a regular fashion or may be collected at one pole or both poles of the cell .

      In osteoclastoma , chronic osteitis , osteitis fibrosa cystica  etc a foreign body giant cell known as Osteoclastic giant cell is found . Here , the number of nuclei will be 10 to 20 or m ore . . They are placed centrally like a rosette and basophilic in nature .

2.. Tumour giant cell – The characteristic of tumour giant cells are –

i)                    the cells are large in size .

ii)                  Nuclei of the cells are oval , hyperchronic , few in number and stain darkly

  

       This type of giant cell found in –

i)                    Osteogenic sarcoma

ii)                  Glioblastoma multoforme .

iii)                Rhabdomyosarcoma

3.. Sterberg Reed cells – These are malign at reticulum cells ,and found in Hodgkin’s disease .

4..  Aschoff cells – This type of giant cell is found in Aschoff bodies myocardium  , synovial membrane , periarticular tissue , skin nodules , adventitia of aorta etc .

5.. Naturally occuring giant cell – Megakaryocyte is occurring giant cell . .