[The ultrastructure of epithelioid cells in sarcoidosis and sarcoid reactions]

Abstract

Electron microscopic examination of epithelioid-cell granulomas of two patients with total sarcoidosis and of three ones with isolated sarcoidosis of the skin (sarcoid reactions) has revealed a morphologic polarization of epithelioid cells, manifesting as 4 zones: (1) crimped [correction of chimp] edge zone, (2) zone of vesicles and vacuoles, (3) basal zone, (4) osmiophilic granules zone. The structure of epithelioid cells in sarcoidosis and in sarcoid reactions was found similar, evidencing a high biosynthetic function of the cells.