The Pathology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Progress in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016 Dec;140(12):1423-1428. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2015-0455-RS.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. There has been significant progress in the pathologic description and pathophysiologic analysis of COPD in the 20th and 21st centuries. We review the history, progression, and significance of pathologic alterations in COPD, including emphysematous changes, airway alterations, and vascular alterations. We also indicate what pathologic features of COPD the practicing pathologist should be describing in standard surgical and autopsy specimens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Airway Resistance
  • Animals
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / complications
  • Parenchymal Tissue / blood supply
  • Parenchymal Tissue / diagnostic imaging
  • Parenchymal Tissue / pathology
  • Parenchymal Tissue / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Circulation
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / complications
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / pathology*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Emphysema / etiology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vascular Diseases / etiology