Ferruginous body

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 28 Apr 2020

A ferruginous body is a histological finding in interstitial lung disease that is a result of inorganic dust inhalation.

Macrophage ingestion of the inorganic fibre results in a fibrotic reaction with encasement of the fibre in iron-rich material that is derived from proteins such as ferritin and haemosiderin.

Where asbestos is confirmed as the fibre in the nidus of the body, it is termed an asbestos body.

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