What Histological Features are Seen in Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis involves the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components like collagen, leading to thickening and stiffening of the lung parenchyma. Histologically, this is seen as dense fibrosis replacing the normal alveolar architecture, with fibroblast and myofibroblast proliferation. Honeycombing, characterized by cystic spaces lined by bronchiolar epithelium, is often observed in advanced stages. The lung tissue becomes less compliant, severely impairing its function.
