particle disease

particle disease

A condition that affects patients with joint replacement, in whom cobalt-chromium and titanium dust leaks from the prosthesis and migrates to lymphoid tissue where it evokes a brisk histiocytic reaction without cytologic atypia or mitosis. The cytoplasm contains needle-shaped black particles also visible in extracellular spaces. Affected lymph nodes are often incidental findings during a prostatectomy or cystoprostatectomy in men and cystectomy or hysterectomy in women.