Liver tubercles

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection with mycobacterium causing the presence of tubercles. The most common single source of infection is the lungs. If the tubercles are within the blood and more than two tissues sites (e.g. lungs and liver) then it is called miliary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or more rarely Mycobacterium bovis. Infection spreads by inhalation of infected droplets. 

Table 33 showed that of the ten animals in the untreated group, eight developed minute tubercles in the liver, five in the spleen and lungs, and nine in the peritoneum and intestines microscopic necrosis suggestive of caseation was found in the liver of three animals and in the spleen, peritoneum, and intestine each in one animal. Smears of acid-fast bac-... 

These granulomatous tubercles are surrounded by a loose rim of lymphocytes. Massive miliary spread to the liver may also cause acute liver failure (35, 44) as well as septic shock with multiorgan failure. (54)... 

Fig. 37.2 Liver metastases in the right hepatic lobe in breast cancer with pronounced chaotic vascularization. Dissipated light reflex due to tumourous tubercles on the surface...

A single injection of cord factor, which by itself has no lasting deleterious effects, causes tuberculous infections to progress more rapidly than they otherwise would thus, mice receiving an injection of cord factor prior to infection die sooner than controls their lungs, livers, and spleens contain a greater number of viable tubercle bacilli than do the organs of control animals. 

Dossing M, Wilcke JTR, Askgaard DS, Nybo B. Liver injury during antituberculosis treatment an 11 -year study. Tubercle Lung Dis (1996) 77, 335—40. 

---