Anatomy

Foreign-Body Giant Cells

Multinucleated cells (fused macrophages), characteristic of granulomatous inflammation, which form around exogenous material in the skin. They are similar in appearance to Langhans giant cells (GIANT CELLS, LANGHANS), but foreign-body giant cells have more abundant chromatin and their nuclei are scattered in an irregular pattern in the cytoplasm.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Multinucleated cells (fused macrophages), characteristic of granulomatous inflammation, which form around exogenous material in the skin. They are similar in appearance to Langhans giant cells (GIANT CELLS, LANGHANS), but foreign-body giant cells have more abundant chromatin and their nuclei are scattered in an irregular pattern in the cytoplasm.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • Foreign Body Giant Cell
  • Foreign Body Giant Cells
  • Foreign Body-Type Giant Cells
  • Giant Cells, Foreign-Body
  • Cell, Foreign-Body Giant
  • Cells, Foreign-Body Giant
  • Foreign Body Type Giant Cells
  • Foreign-Body Giant Cell
  • Giant Cell, Foreign-Body
  • Giant Cells, Foreign Body

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, enzymology, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

91(90); was see under GIANT CELLS 1990

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Foreign Body Reaction (1972-1989)
  • Macrophages (1966-1989)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A11w.329w.372w.376w
  2. A11w.500w.376w
  3. A11w.627.482w.376w
  4. A11w.733w.397w.376w
  5. A15.382w.670.522w.376w
  6. A15.382w.680w.397w.376w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Foreign-Body Giant Cells. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015743. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015743
  2. Foreign-Body Giant Cells. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign-body_giant_cell
  3. Foreign-Body Giant Cells. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3332118