Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
A granuloma is a chronic inflammatory reaction to a wide variety of fungi (including Candida [candidiasis], Coccidioides immitis [coccidioidomycosis], Paracoccidioides brasiliensis [paracoccidioidomycosis]) as well as other infectious and non-infectious agents (talc, beryllium). Several types of granulomas with specific attributes are recognized. They include actinic granuloma [granuloma - actinic], cholesterol granuloma [granuloma - cholesterol], eosinophilic granuloma, granuloma annulare, midline lethal granuloma, pyogenic granuloma, foreign body granuloma [granuloma - foreign body], lipoid granuloma [granuloma - lipoid], granuloma fungoides (mycosis fungoides), sarcoid granuloma [sarcoidosis], rheumatic granuloma [granuloma - rheumatic], xanthomatous granuloma [granuloma - xanthomatous] and granuloma inguinale.  Intravenously administered illicit drugs are often contaminated with talc, cornstarch or other foreign particles that occasionally accumulate in choroidal and other ocular blood vessels sometimes eliciting granulomas.