Silica Granuloma of the Skin

Submucous implant of abrasive dental materials in rat tongues: clinical and histological evaluation

“…The SS White pumice stone and the abrasive powder of the finishing and polishing 3M sandpaper produced discrete to moderate forms of lympho-plasmocytes in all samples at all times. These findings are in agreement with the literature (3)(4)(5)(7)(8)(9)11,(13)(14)(15). The presence of lympho-plasmocyte cells is also reported by Daley and Wisocki (1) and Gordon and Daley (2) where foreign particles frequently containing calcium, silicon and aluminum were found in the interior of gingival tissues.…”

From silica granuloma to scar sarcoidosis

“…Shelley & Hurley (i960) proposed that metabolic processes ultimately convert all these various silicates into colloidal silica and that the silica granuloma is the result of a normal reticuloendothelial response to colloidal silica. They were at variance with Epstein (1955) who had suggested a delayed hypersensitivity mechanism which Refvem (1954) had been unable to confirm by intradermal testing. The relationship of the silica granuloma to frank sarcoidosis is debatable.…”

“…Why should such granulomatous change sometimes remain localised as a silica granuloma and sometimes from part of the wider picture of scar sarcoidosis? Perhaps, as Epstein (1955) suggested, silica may act like berylium and zirconium, causing a delayed hypersensitivity reaction which may result in a histological picture identical with that of sarcoidosis. Perhaps silica or other agents, once phagocytosed by macrophages, result in the Hberation of angiotensin converting enzyme, lymphokines and other substances which initiate a systemic granulomatous response or, perhaps the genetically determined immune responsiveness of the patient may determme whether a granulomatous scar should develop and if so which type.…”

A case of oral foreign‐body granuloma due to diatoms

“…Although there are no reported human cases of diatom‐induced granuloma formation, there have been a few instances of cutaneous granuloma formation initiated by silica 14‐16 . Silica granulomas have been described as a foreign body reaction with a tuberculoid pattern consisting of epithelioid cells with or without giant cells and caseation necrosis 17 .…”