Medical Student William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States
Introduction/Background: Histologic characterization offers a framework for the understanding and diagnosis of viral interstitial pneumonitis (VIP). Moreover, due to the serious consequence in delayed diagnosis, respiratory failure, the clinical findings and physiology of VIP are fundamental to prevent mortality. Thus, there is a need for earlier detection and treatment of VIP. Here, human cadaver lung tissue is evaluated and characterized in a cadaver with a known cause of death of “respiratory failure.” Notably, cadaveric studies are relevant due to pathological study of human remains being the gold standard for the diagnosis of many diseases.
Methods: Human lung tissue specimens were collected by dissection from a donated cadaver made available by the department of anatomy. The samples were processed as standard tissue specimens to create hematoxylin-eosin stained slides. A board-certified pathologist evaluated the slides under a light microscope to assess alveolar morphology, immune cells, and tissue architecture.
Results/Discussion: The histologic slides were high quality without evidence of staining or other artifacts from the embalming process. The lung sections showed diffuse thickening of the alveolar septa with some cuboidalization of the alveolar epithelium. Furthermore, there was presence of a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate within the lung interstitium, in the absence of bacteria. Together, these findings are highly suggestive of VIP as the underlying mechanism of death.
Conclusions: Lung tissue from human cadavers is particularly useful to observe the histologic manifestations of lung disease. Additionally, understanding the structural and physiological changes in VIP demonstrates the osteopathic principle that structure and function are interrelated. This cadaveric study and microscopic findings highlight the feasibility in histologic analysis to diagnose VIP, which presents with lymphocyte-predominant interstitial inflammatory infiltrate. By leveraging lung samples and histological analysis at an earlier time, physicians can more rapidly diagnose VIP and initiate appropriate therapy. This ultimately will reduce the risk of respiratory failure and prevent mortality.
