Surgical pathology of pulmonary infections

The evaluation of pulmonary specimens plays an important role in the diagnosis of pulmonary infections. In order to maximize the information gained from each specimen, an organized approach is important to decide when to investigate, what type of specimen to obtain, and from where to obtain the specimen. Careful thought must be given to the patient's underlying condition, the clinical and radiographic picture, and the sensitivity of procedure under consideration. Good communication is important between the clinician and pathologist to ensure that a diagnosis is obtained. When a biopsy is obtained, certain routine investigations for infection should be performed, including culture and special stains. However, in certain situations, special techniques may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Pathological interpretation of lung biopsies can be approached by analyzing the lung specimen for histological patterns of tissue reactions. These morphological patterns can provide very helpful clues in analyzing the tissue specimen for an infectious agent.