What type of lesion is characterized by generalized inflammation?

Phlegmon is a type of lesion that is specifically associated with generalized inflammation. This condition typically arises when there is a diffuse accumulation of inflammatory cells within a tissue, often in response to an infection. It is characterized by the spread of inflammatory cells through tissues rather than forming a distinct or localized abscess. As a result, phlegmon can manifest as a soft-tissue infection that is usually more extensive and less well-defined than localized infections.

In contrast, a granuloma is a type of chronic inflammatory lesion that forms when the immune system attempts to wall off substances it perceives as foreign but cannot eliminate. This formation represents a localized response rather than generalized inflammation. Pustules and vesicles are also forms of lesions, but they denote specific types of fluid-filled sacs or blisters on the skin, associated with localized processes rather than the broader inflammatory context of phlegmon. Therefore, the defining feature of phlegmon as a lesion lies in its characteristic diffuse and generalized inflammatory involvement in a given area.