Pathology of Pulmonary Diseases

Question 1

What is Pulmonary Oedema?

Answer 1

accumulation of fluid in the lung (interstitium and alveolar spaces)

Question 2

What are the causes of Pulmonary Oedema?

Answer 2

1. Haemodynamic (increased hydrostatic pressure)
2. Due to cellular injury- Alveolar lining cells + Alveolar endothelium
   Localised – pneumonia
   Generalised – adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Question 3

What causes diffuse alveolar distress syndrome?

Answer 3

sepsis, diffuse infection (virus, mycoplasma), severe trauma, oxygen

Question 4

What is neonatal RDS?

Answer 4

Premature infants
Deficient in surfactant - type 2 alveolar lining cells
Increased effort in expanding lung physical damage to cells

Question 5

What is a pulmonary infarct?

Answer 5

(ischaemic necrosis)

caused by embolus but bronchial artery supply needs to be compromised (eg in cardiac failure) for full infarct

Question 6

Name some transudate (low protein) effusion diseases relating to the pleura?

Answer 6

cardiac failure

hypoproteinaemia

Question 7

Name some exudate (high protein) effusion diseases relating to the pleura?

Answer 7

pneumonia
TB
connective tissue disease
malignancy (primary or metastatic)

Question 8

Describe a purulent effusion?

Answer 8

Full of acute inflammatory cells

Empyema