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General and Systemic Histopathology, C601&C602
    Slide 58: Lung with abscess
     
    There is such consolidation in this section of lung, that it is hardly recognizable for what it is. Just looking at the piece of tissue on the slide, you'll see the diffuse infiltrate as well as the darker areas represent the complete breakdown of the pulmonary tissue.  Start by looking at the edge of the tissue to see if you can find any "normal" lung to help you get oriented.

    See this slide with the virtual microscope.

    This condition could be due to any number of bacterial organisms, or even a mixture of bugs, but it happens to be staphylococcus. The general alveolar outlines will be hard to find in the areas of necrosis, so go to the edge of the tissue to get your bearings. You will need to be pretty familiar with normal lung architecture to see anything in the background. Much of the lung parenchyma has been destroyed by the digestive enzymes of the bugs. You will see many acute inflammatory cells along with the amorphous digested debris. Clearly, once the lung tissue has been destroyed and the abscess formed, that lung tissue is gone for good. 


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