Calcifications of the pelvic lymph nodes - Are they the possible sign of nanobacterial infection?
Article published in Urologia Polska 2006/59/2.

authors

Krzysztof W. Zieliński ¹, Marek Sosnowski ², Dorota Snopkowska ¹, Dariusz Młoczkowski ¹: ¹ Zakład Patomorfologii i Cytopatologii Klinicznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi
² I Klinika Urologii Katedry Urologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi

keywords

pelvic lymph nodes, calcification, immunohistochemistry, nanobacteriae

summary

Introduction and the aim of the study. Until now Nanobacteria are the only described type of Nanobacteria sanguineum. They belong to the G (-) smallest micro organisms. Their features are the smallest size and very slow rate of growth as well as the ability of forming pathological calcifications. Until very recently, the relationship between nanobacterial infections and the calcification of the lymph nodes were not examined. Our study is the very first attempt to analyze this phenomenon. The aim of the study is the evaluation of the frequency of the presence of the calcification of the lymph nodes and attempt to determine the role of nanobacteria in their formation using the immunohistochemical methods.

Material and methods. The study has enrolled in 22 men 49-79 years of age (av. 63.4) who had 61 groups of lymph nodes removed during the radical prostatectomy due to the prostate cancer. They were both right and left obturator and iliac nodes in which the metastases of cancer were not found. The presence and the treatment of urolithiasis of all the patients were also established.

Results. In the 51 (83.6%) of the examined groups of lymph nodes the calcification of various degree was present. It has been proven that the degree of the calcification closely correlates with the age of the patients (Spearman correlation coeff. R=0.48) and it is higher in the patients treated for urinary tract lithiasis. Positive immunohistochemical reaction with the antibody 8D10 against nanobacteria (Nanobac Oy, Finland) were found in 33 (54%) groups of the lymph nodes. It was also established that the intensity and the spread of the immunohistochemical reaction seems to correlate with the intensity of the calcification. In cases of the less intense calcification it was shown that the positive immunohistochemical reaction was found in the cytoplasm of histiocyts of the sinuses of lymph nodes.

Conclusions. According to the latest reports, regarding the disputable role of the nanobacteria in the pathogenesis of calcification of the pelvic structures, it is conceivable, that the calcification of the pelvic lymph nodes should be added to the structures and pathological places where nanobacteria might be active.

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