In
pathology
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...
, a Councilman body, also known as a Councilman hyaline body or apoptotic body, is an
eosinophilic
Eosinophilic (Greek suffix -phil-, meaning ''loves eosin'') is the staining of tissues, cells, or organelles after they have been washed with eosin, a dye.
Eosin is an acidic dye for staining cell cytoplasm, collagen, and muscle fibers. ''E ...
globule of
apoptotic
Apoptosis (from grc, ἀπόπτωσις, apóptōsis, 'falling off') is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes ( morphology) and death. These changes incl ...
hepatocyte cell fragments. Ultimately, the fragments are taken up by macrophages or adjacent parenchymal cells.
[Ivan Damjanov, MD, PhD: Pathology for the Health Professions, 4th ed, St. Louis, Saunders Elsevier, 2012, p 19, Fig. 1-26.)] They are found in the
liver
The liver is a major organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. In humans, it ...
of individuals suffering from acute viral hepatitis,
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...
, and other viral syndromes.
Associated conditions
Councilman bodies were first identified in Yellow fever, which characteristically shows a midzonal hepatic necrosis on biopsy. Similar inclusions are observed in other
viral hemorrhagic
Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vag ...
fever
Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point. There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using val ...
s and all of the viral hepatitides. Liver biopsy of acute viral hepatitis shows panlobular lymphocytic infiltrates with ballooning hepatocytes.
Eponym
Councilman bodies are named after American
pathologist
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in t ...
William Thomas Councilman
William Thomas Councilman (January 1, 1854 in Pikesville, Maryland – May 26, 1933 in York Village, Maine) was an American pathologist.
He is remembered for his contribution in a monograph on amoebic dysentery (1891) which described detailed ob ...
(1854–1933), who discovered them.
See also
*
Ballooning degeneration
In histopathology, ballooning degeneration, formally ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, is a form of liver parenchymal cell (i.e. hepatocyte) death.
The name is derived from the fact that the cells undergoing this form of cell death incr ...
*
Feathery degeneration
*
Mallory body
In histopathology, a Mallory body, Mallory-Denk body, and Mallory's hyaline, is an inclusion found in the cytoplasm of liver cells. Mallory bodies are damaged intermediate filaments within the liver cells.
Associated conditions
Mallory bodies ...
References
Hepatology
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