Lung
Other nonneoplastic disease
Pulmonary edema
Author: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D.
Last author update: 1 December 2011
Last staff update: 24 August 2020
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: pulmonary edema [title] lung
Table of Contents
Clinical featuresCite this page: Weisenberg E. Pulmonary edema. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/lungnontumorpulmonaryedema.html. Accessed December 21st, 2024.
Clinical features
- Due to hemodynamic disturbances (cardiogenic) or local microvascular injury
Hemodynamic disturbances:
- Due to increased hydrostatic pressure from congestive heart failure
- Lungs are wet and heavy, fluid initially at base of lower lobes because hydrostatic pressure is greater here
- Congestion, fluid and hemosiderin laden macrophages (heart failure cells) are present
- Later fibrosis and thickening of alveolar walls (brown induration of lung)
Local microvascular injury:
- Injury causes leakage of fluids and proteins into interstitial space, eventually into alveoli
- When diffuse, contributes to acute respiratory distress syndrome
