24. Bronchopneumonia

Overview of the slide

Staining: HE

Organ: Lung

Description:

The otherwise normal parenchyme contain multiple foci. The alveoli inside these foci are filled with exudate and acute inflammatory cells, mostly neutrophils.

Diagnosis: Bronchopneumonia

Theory:

Compare this slide to lobar pneumonia, slide number 25.

In bronchopneumonia is the inflammation present in foci spread evenly throughout all lobes. The inflammation doesn’t diffusely affect the whole lung, which occurs in lobar pneumonia.

The alveoli contain purulent exudate (pus), which consists of neutrophils, necrotic cells and oedema fluid. This is therefore the purulent stage of pneumonia.

Close-up of one focus. Seeing the alveolar structures can be hard when they’re filled with neutrophils. I’ve circled one of them.

Close-up of an alveolus inside a focus. The cells are mostly neutrophils.