Table 4

Pathological characteristics of cases 7–9, 11, 14 and 15 with humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injury

Histological featuresCase 7Case 8_initialCase 8_2ndCase 9Case 11Case 14Case 15_initialCase 15_2nd
Specimen typeTBLBWedgeExplantationNeedle BxWedgeWedgeWedgeExplantation
StageEarlyLateLateEarlyEarlyEarlyEarlyLate
Pattern of distribution
 Anatomic distributionCentrilobularCentrilobularCentrilobularCentrilobularCentrilobularCentrilobularCentrilobularCentrilobular
 Diffuse vs patchyPatchyPatchyDiffusePatchyPatchyPatchyPatchyDiffuse
 Subpleural and peripheral sparingPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Temporal homogeneityHomogeneousHomogeneousHomogeneousHomogeneousHomogeneousHomogeneousHomogeneousHomogeneous
Pattern of fibrosis
 Interstitial fibroblastic proliferationPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Collagenous fibrosisAbsentAbsentPresentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentPresent
 Smooth muscle metaplasiaAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
 Ring fibrosisAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
 Microscopic honeycomb changeAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
Alveolar pathology
 Hyaline membranePresentPresentAbsentAbsentPresentAbsentPresentPresent
 Alveolar pneumocyte hyperplasiaPresentPresentPresentAbsentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Fibrin thrombi in pulmonary arteriesAbsentAbsentPresentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
 Alveolar wall expansionPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrationPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Intra-alveolar pathology
 Intra-alveolar fibrinPresentPresentAbsentAbsentPresentAbsentPresentAbsent
 Intra-alveolar macrophagePresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Intra-alveolar fibroblastic plugPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Small airway pathology
 Bronchiolar epithelial denudationPresentPresentPresentAbsentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Bronchiolar wall thickeningPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Peribronchial fibrosisAbsentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Peribronchial inflammatory cell infiltrationPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Intraluminal fibroblastic growth (mural fibrosis)PresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
 Necrotising injuryAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
 Peribronchial lymphoid folliclesAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
Others
 Giant cell or epithelioid histiocytesAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent
 GranulomaAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsent