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©2013 UpToDate ® Print Email Asbestos body Photomicrograph shows a dumbbell-shaped asbestos body in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen from a patient with a history of occupational asbestos exposure. Asbestos bodies differ from other nonasbestos ferruginous bodies in that the central core is thin and colorless and is covered by hemosiderin distributed in a characteristic beaded fashion. Courtesy of Jeffrey L Myers, MD.

©2013 UpToDate ® Print Email Asbestos body Photomicrograph shows a dumbbell-shaped asbestos body in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen from a patient with a history of occupational asbestos exposure. Asbestos bodies differ from other nonasbestos ferruginous bodies in that the central core is thin and colorless and is covered by hemosiderin distributed in a characteristic beaded fashion. Courtesy of Jeffrey L Myers, MD. Asbestosis Photomicrograph illustrates a relatively acellular fibrosing interstitial pneumonia in a patient with asbestosis. Alveolar septa are thickened by dense collagen deposition (arrow) resembling that seen in usual intersititial pneumonia. Courtesy of Jeffrey L Myers, MD. Normal lung Low power photomicrograph of normal lung tissue shows open alveoli with thin, capillary- containing interstitial spaces. An artery (A) is identifiable by its thick, muscular wall; the accompanying bronchus (B) contains mucoid material and is lined by columnar respiratory epithelial cells. Courtesy of Steven E Weinberger, MD. Asbestos-related small airway disease H&E-stained section showing junction of terminal (membranous) bronchiole with a respiratory bronchiole from a person with asbestosis who was an ex-smoker. The walls of the bronchioles are thickened by collagen and show mild smooth muscle hyperplasia. There is a mild chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate in the wall. These features are consistent with asbestos-related small airway disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med vol 170 pp 692, 2004; www.atsjournals.org Grade III asbestosis Photomicrograph showing predominantly Grade III asbestosis, partially defined by diffuse interstitial fibrosis extending from acinus to acinus The respiratory bronchiole at bottom left (*) could be classified as a Grade I lesion. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 170:692; www.atsjournals.org. H&E-stained section of lung showing Grade IV asbestosis with honeycombing The overlying pleura (bottom right) is also thickened. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 170:692; www.atsjournals.org.