Pathology — Comprehensive Systematic Notes
1. Structural Overview
2. Trachea — Histological Layers
Epithelium + Lamina propria
Connective tissue, glands
C-shaped hyaline cartilage rings
Outermost fibrous layer
Epithelial cells of the airway (Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium):
3. Air-Blood Barrier
The ultimate site of gas exchange. Function: excrete CO₂ from blood and replenish O₂. Located in the alveolar wall.
4. Defense Mechanisms of the Respiratory Tract
A. Lobar Pneumonia
Morphology — Type: Diffuse exudative (fibrinous) inflammation in alveoli. Involves a large portion or entire lobe.
Four Classical Pathological Stages:
Clinical Features:
Complications:
B. Lobular Pneumonia (Bronchopneumonia)
Pathological Changes:
Clinical Features: Fever, cough, purulent sputum. Often aggravates pre-existing illness.
Complications:
Lobar vs Lobular Pneumonia — High-Yield Comparison
| Feature | Lobar Pneumonia | Lobular (Broncho)pneumonia |
|---|---|---|
| Causative agent | Pneumococcus (S. pneumoniae) | Pyogenic bacteria (Staph, Strep, Pneumo) |
| Typical age | 30–50 yrs, healthy adult | Children, elderly, debilitated |
| Distribution | Entire lobe (diffuse) | Patchy, multifocal, bilateral, basal |
| Nature of inflammation | Fibrinous (exudative) | Suppurative (purulent) |
| Stages | 4 classic stages, ~7–10 days | No classic stages |
| Pleural involvement | Common | Less common |
| Key complications | Carnification, lung abscess, septicemia, toxic shock | Lung abscess, pyothorax, bronchiectasis, heart failure, respiratory failure |
| Clinical onset | Sudden, chills, fever, rusty sputum | Fever, cough, purulent sputum |
C. Viral Pneumonia
Pathological Changes:
A. Pulmonary Emphysema
Etiology & Pathogenesis
Key Mechanism: Two critical imbalances working together (additive effects):
Also contributing: Obstructive ventilatory dysfunction of bronchioles → narrowing.
Types of Emphysema (by anatomic distribution within the lobule)
| Type | Location of Dilation | Key Association |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Centriacinar | Respiratory bronchioles dilate (central part of acinus) | Cigarette smoking; most common; not α₁AT deficiency |
| 2. Panacinar | Entire acinus uniformly enlarged (respiratory bronchiole → terminal alveoli) | α₁-antitrypsin deficiency |
| 3. Distal acinar (paraseptal) | Adjacent to pleura and lobular connective tissue septa; margins of lobules most affected | Spontaneous pneumothorax in young adults; bulla formation |
| 4. Irregular | Irregular; associated with scarring | Healed inflammatory diseases; clinically asymptomatic; most common form overall |
Morphology
Gross:
Microscopy (LM):
Clinical Features
B. Chronic Bronchitis (Key Microscopic Features)
Etiology
Inhalation of SiO₂ particles < 5 μm (reach alveoli).
Common occupational exposures:
Pathogenesis
Morphology
Complications
Etiology & Pathogenesis
Other causes: Disorders affecting chest movement; diseases of pulmonary vessels.
Pathological Changes
Lung lesions:
Heart changes:
Introduction
Nasopharyngeal epithelium
Common in China (esp. Guangdong, Zhujiang, Xijiang drainage), Indonesia, Malaysia, North Africa
Male:Female = 2:1, peak age 40–50 years. Males predominate especially before age 45.
Etiology & Pathogenesis
Evidence for EBV role:
Morphology — Location
Most commonly: nasopharyngeal roof → lateral wall → pharyngeal recess
Gross Types:
Nodular mass
Polypoid/cauliflower mass
Beneath mucosa, bulges inward
Diffuse wall infiltration
Surface ulceration
Histological Types
| Type | Subtype | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Keratinizing (well differentiated) | Intercellular bridges + keratin pearls; resembles normal squamous epithelium |
| Non-keratinizing: Differentiated (poorly differentiated) | Delamination of cancer nest cells obscure; obvious cellular atypia | |
| Non-keratinizing: Undifferentiated ← MOST COMMON |
Vesicular nucleus cell carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma): large vesicular nuclei, 1–2 prominent nucleoli, abundant cytoplasm, indistinct borders, numerous lymphocytes intermixed. OR Small cell types (small round/spindle cells). Sensitive to radiotherapy → better prognosis but can be confused with lymphoma → use Reticulin stain + IHC (CK+ = carcinoma; LCA+ = lymphoma) |
|
| Adenocarcinoma | — | Glandular differentiation |
Spread & Metastasis
Clinical Features
Treatment & Prognosis
Epidemiology
Etiology & Pathogenesis
Asbestos (best known), uranium, nickel, chromate, gold mining
Ozone, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
c-myc (SCLC), K-ras (adenocarcinoma), P53 (most frequent), RB, p16; LOH on chromosome 3p (all types)
Gross Types (by Position)
| Type | Location | Histology Association | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central (Hilar) | Major bronchi (1st–3rd order); 75% of cases | Squamous cell carcinoma (related to smoking) | Causes airway obstruction |
| Peripheral | Small bronchi/bronchioles; alveolar cells; periphery of lungs | Adenocarcinoma; common in women | Single or multiple nodules |
| Diffuse | Diffuse miliary nodules | 2–5% of lung cancers | Mimics pneumonia/tuberculosis |
Histological Classification
1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
2. Adenocarcinoma (Most Common Overall)
Subtypes:
3. Large Cell Carcinoma
4. Small Cell Carcinoma (SCLC) — Most Malignant
Histology:
Origin & Special Features:
NSCLC vs SCLC — Critical Comparison Table
| Feature | NSCLC | SCLC |
|---|---|---|
| Cytoplasm | Abundant | Scant |
| Nuclei | Pleomorphic (large) | Small, dark |
| Chromogranin IHC | Negative | Positive |
| Synaptophysin IHC | Negative | Positive |
| Treatment | Surgery | Chemotherapy |
| Outcomes | Better | Worse |
| Molecular changes | P16, cyclinD1, K-ras | P53, RB mutations |
Minor Histological Types
Clinical Features
Patterns of Spread
Airway obstruction (central type); pericardial/pleural effusion; SVC compression (venous congestion); brachial and cervical sympathetic plexus (apical tumors)
Hilar LN → paratracheal LN → cervical LN → Virchow's node (left supraclavicular)
Liver, bone, adrenal glands, brain. May produce clinical symptoms BEFORE primary tumor is detected.
Prognosis
Diagnosis Methods
Therapy
Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (based on type and stage)
All 4 Histological Types — Quick Revision
| Type | Gross | Association | Special Feature | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squamous Cell Ca | Central; cavitation common | Smoking, men | Squamous metaplasia → dysplasia → CIS (preneoplastic) | Surgery (NSCLC) |
| Adenocarcinoma | Peripheral; multiple nodules | Women, non-smokers, <45 yrs | Most common type overall; rapid hematogenous spread; lepidic subtype | Surgery (NSCLC) |
| Large Cell Ca | Variable | None specific | Diagnosis of exclusion; undifferentiated | Surgery (NSCLC) |
| Small Cell Ca | Central/hilar; soft white tan | Smoking; young–middle aged men | Oat cell; neuroendocrine origin; paraneoplastic syndromes; Chrom(+) Synap(+) | Chemo ± RT (SCLC) |
| Disease | Key Bug / Cause | Pathology Buzzword | Key Complication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lobar pneumonia | S. pneumoniae | Fibrinous; 4 stages; red/gray hepatization | Carnification |
| Bronchopneumonia | Pyogenic bacteria | Suppurative; patchy; basal; peribronchial | Bronchiectasis, heart failure |
| Viral pneumonia | Influenza, RSV, etc. | Interstitial; inclusion bodies; hyaline membrane | Respiratory failure |
| Emphysema | Smoking / α₁AT↓ | Permanent airspace enlargement; no fibrosis | Cor pulmonale |
| Silicosis | SiO₂ inhalation | Hyalinized collagen whorls; nodular fibrosis | TB, cor pulmonale |
| Cor pulmonale | COPD → pulmonary HTN | RV hypertrophy/dilation | RV failure |
| NPC | EBV, nitrosamines | Undifferentiated; lymphoepithelioma | Cranial nerve damage, hematogenous spread |
| Lung Ca (SqCC) | Smoking | Central; cavitation; keratin pearls | Airway obstruction |
| Lung Ca (Adeno) | Non-smoking, women | Peripheral; lepidic; glandular | Early hematogenous spread |
| Lung Ca (SCLC) | Smoking; neuroendocrine | Oat cells; Chromogranin/Synaptophysin+ | Paraneoplastic syndrome; early metastasis |