Lung and Pleura

Abstract

With every breath we take, we expose the lungs to a myriad of insults from the outside world. The patterns of injury that result encompass a broad spectrum of neoplastic and nonneoplastic pulmonary diseases. This chapter reviews the salient clinical and pathologic features of these diseases and summarizes special studies, including immunohistochemical, molecular, and genetic tests that may be helpful in diagnosing these diseases. It begins with the main pediatric and congenital lesions of the lung and then proceeds to the most common nonneoplastic diseases, including the pathology of obstructive lung diseases (emphysema, bronchitis, small airway disease), interstitial disease (idiopathic and others), vascular pathology (vasculitides and the pathology of pulmonary hypertension) and the common viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. The neoplastic section begins with the preinvasive lesions followed by the most common neoplasms of the lung, the carcinomas. Less frequent neoplasms including sarcomas and lymphomas are included with a special emphasis on the ancillary studies needed in establishing these difficult diagnoses. Finally, the major pleural tumors are presented, which include mesothelioma and solitary fibrous tumors and are followed by a summary table of important ancillary studies needed to confirm these diagnoses.