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Atelectasis
Etiology

Obstruction of airway
Compression with fluid/blood/neoplasm/air in pleural space
Loss of surfactant
Pathogenesis

Complete obstruction of inflow results in eventual absorption of air; partial obstruction results in hyperinflation
Compression results from increased intrathoracic pressure by accumulation of material generally in pleural spaces,
Epidemiology

Acquired in adulthood
Airway obstruction by foreign object or secretion
Pleural effusions with congestive heart failure
General Gross Description

Dark purple, airless (non-crepitant) tissue
Hyperinflated regions are tan and pillowy
•Examples:
Hyperinflated and Atelectatic Lung
General Microscopic Description

Collapse of alveolar septae against each other
May be difficult to separate from artifacts of sectioning
•Examples:
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 675.

For Most Current Information Search Medline at National Library of Medicine
This link will directly take you to the relevant new literature
Atelectasis
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T28000M34310)[139]
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