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Pulmonary histology for the surgical pathologist
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
Abstract:
This is a review of the variety of pulmonary histologic artifacts and incidental findings that may come to the attention of the surgical pathologist. In some cases, these may lead to an erroneous diagnosis; in others, they may obscure the diagnosis. The following groups of lesions are discussed: artifacts seen in biopsy and resection material, site-specific changes commonly encountered, incidental findings and structures seen in biopsy and resection material, and age-related changes. A short review of normal histology is included for perspective and a discussion of the abnormal biopsy that appears normal on first review is presented.
Insights
Surgical pathologists must recognize pulmonary histologic artifacts and incidental findings to avoid misdiagnosis. This review covers common artifacts, site-specific changes, incidental findings, and age-related alterations in lung tissue.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary pathology
- Surgical pathology
- Histology
Background:
- Pulmonary histologic artifacts and incidental findings can complicate accurate diagnosis.
- These findings may lead to erroneous diagnoses or obscure underlying pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common pulmonary histologic artifacts and incidental findings encountered in surgical pathology.
- To provide perspective on normal histology and discuss challenging cases.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature and case material pertaining to pulmonary histology.
- Categorization of lesions into artifacts, site-specific changes, incidental findings, and age-related changes.
Main Results:
- Discussion of artifacts in biopsy and resection specimens.
- Identification of commonly encountered site-specific changes.
- Listing of incidental findings and structures.
- Analysis of age-related histological alterations.
Conclusions:
- Awareness of artifacts and incidental findings is crucial for surgical pathologists.
- Distinguishing normal variations from pathology is essential for accurate pulmonary diagnosis.