Brown induration of lung: Chronic passive congestion of the lungs is usually due to abnormalities of the heart, valvular insufficiency or stenosis of the left side. The consequence of this is leakage of erythrocytes from alveolar capillaries into the adjacent alveolar spaces. These erythrocytes are phagocytized by alveolar macrophages, which transform the hemoglobin into a golden-brown pigment. These hemosiderin-laden alveolar macrophages are termed “heart failure cells.” When the accumulation of hemosiderin is excess, the lungs become brownish tinge. As a reaction to the constant pressure of the blood in the distended capillaries, there is a diffuse proliferation of connective tissue through out the alveolar walls. This condition makes the whole lungs leathery and somewhat firm in consistency as we can say indurated. Depending on these two pathological findings, the condition is commonly referred to as brown induration of the lungs. Heart failure cell: Chronic passive congestion of the lungs is usually due to abnormalities of the heart, valvular insufficiency or stenosis of the left side. The consequence of this is leakage of erythrocytes from alveolar capillaries into the adjacent alveolar spaces. These erythrocytes are phagocytized by alveolar macrophages, which transform the hemoglobin into a golden-brown pigment. These hemosiderin-laden alveolar macrophages are termed “heart failure cells.”
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 06:18:05 +0000