Giant cell

Multinucleated giant cells due to an infection. H&E stain.

A giant cell is a mass formed by the union of several distinct cells (usually macrophages).^[1] It can arise in response to an infection or foreign body.

Types include:

• foreign-body giant cell
• Langhans giant cell
• Touton giant cells

Additional images

Foreign-body giant cells in the lung. H&E stain.

Foreign-body giant cell reaction to a suture. H&E stain.

CD68 immunostaining demonstrating giant cells and macrophages.

Cementoblasts & osteoclasts are found normally during the shedding of deciduous teeth. They are also found after tooth extraction.

References

See also

• syncitium
• large cell
• giant cell arteritis
• idiopathic giant cell myocarditis

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External links

• Macrophage fusion : the making of osteoclasts and giant cells