Chronic Granulomatous Disease

A suppurative granuloma is seen in this section of lung from a child with recurrent bacterial infections. In the center are dead or dying neutrophils. The surrounding granuloma contains a giant cell (arrowhead). In addition to the lung, frequent sites of infection are the skin, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, bones, and joints in CGD.  addition to the lung, frequent sites of infection are the skin, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, bones, and joints in CGD. 

CGD is an inherited disorder of phagocytic cells in which those cells are unable to kill bacteria and fungi because of a gene defect which does not allow the necessary respiratory burst. For this reason, the patient is subject to recurrent chronic infections. Most patients present during the first five years of life.

From the slide collection of the late Dr. Charles Kuhn