Peritoneal Pulse Granulomas With Spiral Bodies Mimicking Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Case Report

Pulse (hyaline ring) granuloma, a rare entity first described in lung and oral cavity, has been reported under various names before the identification of hyaline rings as fragments of pulses (the edible seeds of legumes). Similar lesions were thereafter described in extra-oral localizations, mainly the gastrointestinal tract, or localizations having potential communication with the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, 2 reports described “spiral bodies” surrounded by foreign body–type multinucleated giant cell reaction in pulse granulomas, corresponding to remnant plant vascular structures (helical xylem elements). In this article, we report a case of a 70-year-old male patient presenting to our hospital for an incisional hernia repair. He had a history of antrectomy 2 years previously for perforated duodenal ulcer complicated with fecal peritonitis. During the hernia repair procedure, multiple peritoneal whitish nodules and one subserosal appendiceal nodule were found. Appendectomy and biopsy of a peritoneal nodule were performed. Microscopic examination showed nodular lesions located in the subserosa to be pulse granulomas. Also surrounded by histiocytes, spiraled thin and rigid foreign bodies were identified. In this article, we report a case of pulse granuloma with spiral bodies complicating perforated duodenal ulcer and mimicking a peritoneal carcinomatosis. We also provide a discussion on the origin of spiral bodies in light of relevant literature.