Giant cell

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
• Aschoff Giant Cells (found in Rheumatic heart disease)

Also

• as in subependymal giant cell astrocytoma

Additional images

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

See also

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

References

External links

• Macrophage fusion : the making of osteoclasts and giant cells