Aspiration Injury

Epidemiology and Etiology:

• GERD
• Swallowing dysfunction

Common sites:

Gross features:

Histologic features:

• patchy
• bronchiolocentric
• intraalveolar foamy macrophages
• cholesterol clefts occasionally
• foreign-body giant cells enveloping calcific concretions
• aspirated food particles +/- granulomatous reaction
• interstitial lipid vacuoles
• follicular bronchiolitis maybe
• organizing pneumonia maybe
• granulation tissue plugs in the airway lumina maybe
• bronchiectasis in severe chronic cases

Immunophenotype & special stains:

Marker:	Sensitivity:	Specificity:
Oil red O (fresh specimens such as BAL)	Relatively sensitive	Not very
ZN	Unusual cases may have an associated mycobacterial infection

Molecular features:

Other features:

References:

• Leslie. Practical Pulmonary Pathology – A Diagnostic Approach, 2^nd ed (2011)