NBCE Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Miliary calcification of the spleen often suggests a history of chronic infection or granulomatous disease processes. In this context, histoplasmosis stands out as a leading cause. This mycotic infection is caused by the inhalation of spores from the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which can lead to the formation of discrete calcifications throughout the body, particularly in the spleen.

The splenic calcifications observed in histoplasmosis are due to the body’s immune response to the infection, resulting in granuloma formation. Over time, these granulomas can calcify, leading to the characteristic "miliary" pattern seen on radiographs. This radiographic finding is significant in the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis, especially in individuals living in endemic areas where the fungus is prevalent.

Other conditions listed may also present with splenic abnormalities; however, they typically do not present with the same pattern of miliary calcification observed in cases of histoplasmosis. For example, while lymphoma can involve the spleen and cirrhosis may lead to splenomegaly, they do not typically result in the distinctive miliary calcifications found in histoplasmosis. Tuberculosis may also cause splenic involvement, but it