MUSCULAR HYPERPLASIA OF THE LUNG: A PHYSIOPATHOLOGIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Long standing chronic inflammatory disease of the lung may lead to a pathological picture of bullous emphysema with extensive proliferation of the smooth muscle elements which occupy an inordinately large part of the lung volume. Clinically the disorder is characterized by chronic cough productive of purulent, blood-streaked sputum, dyspnea, cyanosis, finger clubbing, diffuse wheezes and fine rales throughout all lung fields. The physiologic impairments are largely bronchial obstruction and alveolar-capillary block.