Pulmonary infarct

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Pulmonary infarct
Diagnosis in short

Pulmonary infarct. H&E stain.

Synonyms lung infarct

LM necrosis of alveolar walls - loss of nuclei, alveolar hemorrhage, +/-evidence of underlying cause
LM DDx see Associated Dx
Gross lung periphery, classically described as wedge-shaped
Site lung

Associated Dx underlying causes: sickle cell disease, pulmonary embolism, vasculitides, malignancy (e.g. lymphoma), drug toxicity, others
Prevalence uncommon
Radiology reverse halo sign
Prognosis dependent on underlying cause
Treatment dependent on underlying cause

Pulmonary infarct is the death of lung tissue due to oxygen deprivation.

It is also known as a lung infarct, lung infarction, and pulmonary infarction.

General

  • Uncommon because of the dual blood supply (systemic via the bronchial arteries, pulmonary via the pulmonary arteries).

Common causes:[1]

Less common causes:

Gross

  • Lung periphery, classically described as wedge-shaped.

Note:

  • In a histologic section, the classic wedge-shaped infarct is triangular:
    • Base of triangle on the pleural aspect.
    • Point furthest from the pleura close to the compromised artery that lead to infarction.

Radiology:

  • Reverse halo sign.[2]

Images:

Microscopic

Features:

  • Necrosis of alveolar walls - loss of nuclei.
  • Alveolar hemorrhage.

Image

See also

References

  1. URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/908045-overview. Accessed on: 12 April 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Casullo, J.; Semionov, A. (Feb 2013). "Reversed halo sign in acute pulmonary embolism and infarction.". Acta Radiol. doi:10.1177/0284185113475797. PMID 23395814.