She developed increasing respiratory difficulty and died. At autopsy, both lungs were diffusely involved with a staphylococcal bronchopneumonia with extensive abscess formation. The right lung additionally contained a well circumscribed area of fibrosis, mainly in the upper lobe and corresponding to the radiation port. The marrow of thoracic vertebrae adjacent to this area was totally replaced by mature adipose tissue. A small focus of residual squamous cell carcinoma was present in the right lung.
Sections are from the right upper lobe.
The typical late manifestation is interstitial fibrosis and vascular sclerosis. High power view of artery with marked intimal proliferation. Lab Manual Questions 1.