An infant with asymptomatic hepatic granuloma probably caused by bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination found incidentally at autopsy: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Usually, systemic complications due to BCG vaccination are quite rare. However, since BCG is a live vaccine, there is still a possibility that it may cause an infection. CASE PRESENTATION: Hepatic granuloma was found incidentally in an asymptomatic 5-month-old infant who was found dead in his bed. The probable cause of death was asphyxia due to milk aspiration into the lungs. The granuloma was composed of epithelioid histiocytes with frequent multinucleated Langhans-type giant cells and a small number of lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: The cause of the asymptomatic granuloma was not identified, but was considered likely due to BCG vaccination.