Bacillary angiomatosis pathology

Introduction

Bacillary angiomatosis is caused by the Rickettsia-like organism, Bartonella henselae.

Histology of bacillary angiomatosis

Histologically, the lesions of bacillary angiomatosis closely resemble pyogenic granuloma. Typically, there are ulcerated papules or nodules composed of lobules of highly vascularised oedematous connective tissue (Figure 1). There is typically a mixed-cell infiltrate and nuclear dust of degenerated inflammatory cells. Accompanying this peculiar background are diagnostic clumps of pink-purplish granular material (Figure 2). This granular material consist of huge numbers of the gram-negative rods of Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae (Figure 3).

Figure 1 

Figure 2 

Figure 3 

Special stains for bacillary angiomatosis

Warthin-Starry stain or gram stain highlight the pink-purple clumps of bartonella organisms. The organisms are revealed to be gram-negative rods with gram stain (Figure 3).

Differential diagnosis of bacillary angiomatosis pathology

Pyogenic granuloma – This also shows an ulcerated lobulated vascular proliferation and inflammatory changes. The organisms are an obvious clue. In organism-poor cases fragmented inflammatory cells can be an important clue and prompt further microbiologic studies.

Verruga peruana – This disease is practically indistinguishable from bacillary angiomatosis histopathologically and similar clumps of bacteria may be found. This disease occurs in Peru and some other parts of South America and is caused by an infectious agent, Bartonella bacilliformis, a relative of Bartonella henselae.