Frequency and potential cause of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in fetal lungs.
Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue consists of lymphoid follicles with or without a germinal center within the bronchial wall. Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue is part of the integrated mucosal immune system and present in about 50% of healthy infants. We examined a series of 141 fetal and neonatal lungs and detected bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in 100% of cases with amniotic infection while postpartum perinatal pneumonia did not elicit bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue formation. Only rarely and in low density, bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue was present in non-infected fetuses. The in utero formation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue seems to be a reactive phenomenon and - as has been shown in another study - does not portend an adverse prognosis.
Ersch
Jörg
J
Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Tschernig
Thomas
T
Stallmach
Thomas
T
D001344:Autopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy