Introduction Pulmonary vascular abnormalities are seen in a variety of acquired and congenital conditions. These structural defects include vascular communications that either are confined to the pulmonary circulation, as is…
Introduction Although in practice the terms “tumor” and “neoplasm” tend to be used interchangeably, there is an important and substantial difference between them. A “tumor” need not be a neoplasm…
Introduction The epidemiology of opportunistic mycoses is evolving. In certain populations, the frequency of opportunistic mycoses is increasing due to use of immune-modulating therapies, a higher frequency of invasive procedures…
Introduction A pneumothorax is present when there is air in the pleural space. Pneumothoraces are classified as spontaneous pneumothoraces, which develop without preceding trauma or other obvious cause, and traumatic…
Introduction Definitions The Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety of the International Labour Organization (ILO) defines pneumoconiosis as “the accumulation of dust in the lungs and the tissue reactions to…
Fundamental Concepts As pulmonary physicians have become increasingly involved in the care of critically ill patients, a thorough understanding of acid-base metabolism has become indispensable. Regulation of arterial pH is…
Introduction The eosinophilic lung diseases are a group of disorders ( Table 68-1 ) characterized by the presence and presumed pathogenetic role of eosinophils in the disease processes. They are…
Introduction Nearly 100 million people live at altitudes greater than 2500 m, primarily in the Rocky Mountains of North America, the Andes Mountains of South America, the Ethiopian Highlands of East…
Introduction Biopsy procedures play an essential role in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with respiratory diseases. Most of the basic techniques we use today were mainly developed and refined during…
Introduction Hematologic diseases and their specific therapies can adversely affect several aspects of cardiopulmonary function, by reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, by impairing pulmonary vascular function and pulmonary…
