The Pathology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Progress in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the developed world, (1) and thus it constitutes a major focus of medical investigation. The pathologic study [...]
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. There has been significant progress in the pathologic description and pathophysiologic analysis of COPD in the 20th and 21st centuries. We review the history, progression, and significance of pathologic alterations in COPD, including emphysematous changes, airway alterations, and vascular alterations. We also indicate what pathologic features of COPD the practicing pathologist should be describing in standard surgical and autopsy specimens. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016;140:1423-1428; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2015-0455-RS)