Histological Patterns Consistent With Pulmonary Infectious Disease

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is not to present an exhaustive list of lung infections or agents causing these infectious processes. Such an atlas has recently been published by the American Registry of Pathology and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC. Instead, examples of a select group of pulmonary infections seen in a consultative format are illustrated here. More importantly, various cases are presented to help the pathologist identify histological patterns that should trigger consideration of a diagnosis of infection of the lung even though stains for specific organisms may have been negative or, in a consultative format, unavailable. Furthermore, cases with nonspecific histological findings that could have followed infectious processes are instructive when indications for culture techniques and special stains are defined.