The tale of microabscesses: A review

Abstract

The immune system is a powerful, complex and diverse defensive mechanism of the body. Any antigenic invasion and infections are well-shielded by these immune cells in a variety of mechanisms. One such advanced procedure being the formation of microabscesses. Microabscess refers to a small accumulation of polymorphs, lymphoid cells, or eosinophils in the epidermis and/or adnexal structures of the skin and epithelium of mucous membranes. A well developed microabscess is composed of a fibrous connective tissue capsule separated from the surrounding tissue, which acts to prevent any microbes contained within the microabscess from further spread. Suppuration and pseudocyst formation can be seen in certain microabscesses. The various types of microabscesses formed are found to contain predominant immune cells, like the neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and are disease specific. This article attempts to review the microabscesses and unravel their significance in various oral diseases.