Lung Pathology Flashcards
Name obstructive lung disease
- Chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Small airway disease/bronchiolitis
Describe the site, pathology, aetiology, clinical features, histological features, and complications of chronic bronchitis
Site
- Bronchus
Pathology
- Dilatation of airways
- Excess mucus production
Aetiology
- Tobacco smoking
- Air pollution
Clinical features
- Cough and sputum
- Most days for 3 months
- For 2 years
Histological features
- Dilatation of the airways
- Hyperplasia of goblet cells
- Hypertrophy of mucous glands
Complications
- Recurrent infections
- Chronic hypoxia
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Lung cancer
Describe the site, pathology, aetiology, clinical features, histological features, and complications of bronchiectasis
Site
- Bronchus
Pathology
- Airway dilatation and scarring
Aetiology
- Infection
- Cystic fibrosis
Clinical features
- Cough
- Sputum production
- Scarring
Histological features
- Permanent dilatation of bronchi
Complications
- Recurrent infections
- haemoptysis
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Amyloidosis
Describe the site, pathology, aetiology, clinical features, histological features, and complications of asthma
Site
- Bronchus
Pathology
- Smooth muscle hyperplasia
- Excess mucus
- Inflammation
- IgE mediated
Aetiology:
- Atopic march
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- Allergens and exertion
Clinical features
- Cough and wheeze
- Episodic
- Night cough
Histological features
- Eosinophils
Complications
- Chronic asthma
- Death
Describe the site, pathology, aetiology, clinical features, histological features, and complications of emphysema
Site
- Acinus
Pathology
- Airspace enlargement
- Alveolar wall destruction
Aetiology
- Tobacco smoking
- Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
Clinical features
- Dyspnoea
- Cough
Histological features
- Loss of alveolar spaces
Complications
- Bullae
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Respiratory failure
List some causes of bronchiectasis
Inflammatory:
- Post-infectious
- Obstruction
- Systemic disease
- Asthma
Congenital:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Amongst others
Describe interstitial lung disease
Diseases of the pulmonary connective tissue which usually show a restrictive picture of lung disease.
Categorised into: - Fibrosing (pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, drug-induced) - Granulomatous (sarcoidosis, TB, vasculitides) - Eosinophilic - Smoking related
Describe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
This more commonly affects males and shows a fibrotic pattern or honeycomb changes to the lung. There are a variety of potential causes and it presents with dyspnoea, a non productive cough and a expiratory fine crackle. It usually presents at 40-70 years of age.
It is treated with steroids but this has little impact on prognosis.
What is pneumoconiosis?
An occupational lung disease, usually affecting the upper lobe.
Describe granulomatous lung disease
A granuloma is a collection of macrophages and infections include TB, fungus and others. Non-infectious causes include sarcoidosis and occupational lung disease.
What is extrinsic allergic alveolitis
An immune mediated disorder caused by exposure to antigens. It presents acutely with systemic symptoms that usually settle within a day. Examples:
- Farmer’s lung (mouldy hay)
- Pigeon fancier’s lung (feathers)
- Humidifier’s lung (heated water systems)
- Malt-worker’s lung (barley)
- Cheese washer’s lung mouldy cheese)
What are the different tumours of the lung?
Non-small cell cancers:
- Adenocarcinomas
- Squamous cell carcinomas
- Large cell carcinomas
Small cell cancers
Describe squamous cell cancers of the lung
These represent up to 50% of lung cancers.
This usually affects males and is closely correlated with smoking. It is usually found at the bronchi and locally spreads but metastasises late. There are a variety of types but they all tend to evolve as a result of epithelial damage and metaplasia into squamous cells.
Describe adenocarcinomas
These represent up to 30% of lung cancers
They are most common in women and non-smokers and are malignant cells with glandular differentiation and mucin production. They are usually peripheral tumours and they metastasise early.
They are associated with EGFR mutations.
Describe large cell lung cancer
These are poorly differentiated tumours with very poor prognosis.
